Published on : 17/09/2021 – 14:40
The 26th edition of the women’s Afrobasket starts this Saturday, September 18 in Cameroon. Nigeria, two-time defending champion and Senegal, the most successful nation, are still shaping up to be the big favorites. Mali and Cameroon hope to foil the odds.
Cameroon is hosting the women’s Afrobasket from September 18 to 26 at the Palais des Sports in Yaoundé. The competition risks once again ending in a duel between Nigerians and Senegalese, the two big teams of the continent. The D’Tigresses have reigned over Africa since 2017 and won their title in Mali against Senegal. The same Senegal they have without a Cup at home in 2019 by winning their second consecutive final. Suffice to say that the Lionesses, revengeful, will be the main opponents of the Nigerians in this tournament.
Senegal, the most successful country with 11 Afrobasket won, as usual aims to regain the top of Africa after two lost finals. For this competition, the daughters of Moustapha Gaye will be deprived of Astou Traoré, best scorer in the history of Afrobasket (751 points), caught up by the weight of age (40 years).
Mali and Cameroon outsiders
Behind the two giants Nigeria and Senegal, Mali can nurture ambitions. Third in the last two editions, the Malians continue to progress and dream of crossing the last obstacle to win their second trophy after that of 2007. It remains to be seen what traces left behind the case of sexual abuse that splashed the Malian basketball, on the group present in Yaoundé.
And Cameroon in all of this? The last time the country organized the competition (2015), the Indomitable had achieved the feat of going to the final. The opportunity is given to them to win their first continental title.
Twelve teams will compete for the trophy. The opening match will pit Senegal against Guinea, a last-minute guest.
The winners of Groups A, B, C, and D advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the remaining eight teams will play a qualifying round for the quarter-finals on Wednesday 22 September.
The two finalist teams will qualify for the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments.
The four groups
Group A: Cameroon, Cape Verde, Kenya
Group B: Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique
Group C: Senegal, Egypt, Guinea
Group D: Mali, Ivory Coast, Tunisia
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