Unhappy finalists of the Afrobasket-2019 in front of its audience, the Lionesses will be the reconquest of the title in Yaoundé in Cameroon, where the 2021 edition is held from September 17 to 26. To achieve this goal, the coach, Moustapha Gaye, has relied heavily on young people who will all the same be accompanied by experienced players. Seneweb profiles the 12 Lionesses who will defend the colors of Senegal.
Maty Fall (23 years old), is one of the players on which Moustapha Gaye places his confidence to establish his game. Despite his young age, the resident of Asc Ville de Dakar has left his mark on Senegal. The native of Saint-Louis who will play her first Afrobasket with the A team, has done almost all the classes of the Lionesses with the small category before catching the eye of the coach. In 2013, she took part in the Under-19 World Cup in Lithuania and in 2017 in the Francophonie Games in Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire.
She joined the national women’s basketball team late. It was the day before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games that Bintou Diémé joined the Lionesses group at the age of 32. The leader who had known the high level for a long time was recalled by Moustapha Gaye to bring her experience in a sector of this team which often wavered. Her contribution in this sector will be remarkable and will allow the Lionesses to qualify for the final of the Afrobasket 2019 in Dakar, lost to Nigeria. At 37, the resident of Nantes Rezé Basket (France) still intends to bring her experience to the team.
Couna Ndao (25) is one of the players who are making their baptism of play this year. Often preselected and then failed, the former back of Saint-Louis Basket club (Slbc) which is making the heyday of Asc city Dakar this time convinced Moustapha Gaye. His performances played a big role in the success of the Dakar Municipality team which won the Mayor’s Cup, the Senegal Cup and the national championship.
In addition to her talent, her style and her publications on the web have made her the player who most arouses the public. Yacine is currently the Senegalese women’s basketball sensation for the past 3 years. She was discovered by the general public in 2018, during the Afrobasket U18 to which she was distinguished with the title of Mvp. The 25-year-old back of Charnay basket (France) currently has quite a remarkable experience in the National team. She took part in the 2018 World Cup in Spain and was one of the centerpieces of the team during the Afrobasket 2019 in Dakar.
This is the first selection of Yaye Irma Diémé. The good season of the winger of the Asc Ville de Dakar of 26 years will be crowned with a good participation of an Afrobasket. For several seasons, she has performed relatively well, but this year, she has gained momentum to find a place among the 12 Lionesses who will defend the colors of Senegal in Cameroon.
Convened with the Lions for the first time during Afrobasket-2019, Léna Niang (24 years old, Temple University), had demonstrated her talents. Some objectors rank her among the future best players in Africa. Léna began her career at the Jeanne D’Arc in Dakar before leaving for the United States in 2012.
She was part of the World Cup campaign in Spain in 2018. But, she can not win a place in the group at the Afrobasket 2019 in Dakar. Ndèye Fatou Ndiaye (28 years old, Wing) who plays at Sainte Savine Basket has recovered. She will participate in her first Afrobasket.
Sokha Fatou Sylla is the only player who plays in the Asian championship. She is even crowned this season, champion of the Japanese first division with her club Toyota Antelopes. The 23-year-old winger will have her first big experience with the Lionesses during Afrobaket 2021.
Mame Marie Sy (36) is one of the last Mohicans on this team. Since 2009, she has participated in all the tournaments the national team have played. She has to her credit 2 titles of African champion (2009 and 2015), 3 silver medals (2011-2017-2019) and a bronze medal (2013). This competition will be the seventh afrobasket for the player from Charleville-Mézières (France).
2015 African champion, Maïmouna Diarra (30) who is currently playing at the Promete Logone campus in Spain was skipped in favor of strong winger Anne Françoise Diouf before being recalled. The coach justifies this choice by the concern for balance in his team. With the arrival of Maïmouna Diarra, Tapha Gaye undoubtedly wants to strengthen its domestic sector.
Due to her age and seniority in the national team, Oumou Khaïry Sarr (37) is the oldest of Moustapha Gaye’s group. African champion in 2009, she participated in five Afrobasket. The pivot of IDK Gipuzcoa in Spain will be looking for his second coronation, the 12th for Senegal.
With her ninety-eight meter for 80 kg, the 26-year-old pivot of ISEG Sports is the largest of the workforce. His size and power allowed him to win in the local championship. This has undoubtedly seduced the coach of the Lionesses. She will also do her baptism of fire in Afrobasket.
Author: Moustapha TOUMBOU (Intern) – Seneweb.com
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