Jane Asinde

SENEGAL last sat on the throne as queens of African basketball in 2015. Fast forward to 2025, can they reclaim the crown? In Group C of the Women’s AfroBasket, the West Africans are the favourites and contenders for the title. Uganda are on the rise and has the knack to cause an upset. Guinea has its doubters, and it is those voices they will be determined to silence in the AfroBasket. 

Senegal

Road to qualification

The Senegalese qualified for their 25th AfroBasket after losing to Nigeria in the 2023 final.

Team history & previous tournament run

Senegal is the most decorated country in the Women’s AfroBasket with 11 trophies, and the Lionesses have appeared in most finals in the tournament’s history – 18. They finished winless in the group stages last year but managed to reach the final against Nigeria.

Amazing as Senegal’s run in this tournament has been, in recent years, they have played second fiddle to Nigeria, a team that has six titles to its name. In 2025, can Senegal throw the spanner in the works and make the prestigious title theirs again?

With the talent at their disposal, there is no doubt that they can.

Players to watch

Cierra Dillard

The American-born Dillard first made her mark on the African scene, winning back-to-back Women’s Basketball League Africa titles with Egyptian club Sporting Alexandria and scooping the MVP trophy in 2023.

Since donning the Senegal vest, the 29-year-old Dillard has done wonders. In her AfroBasket debut in 2023, she flat-out balled, posting 20.7 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game. While she fell short in the final two years ago, the floor general will look to make things right this year.

She is the complete floor general, ensuring that while she gets buckets, she can also put her teammates in a position to carry the scoring load. Her 10 assists against Nigeria in the final are an indication that Dillard loves sharing the ball as much as she is a pure scorer. This attribute will be a plus for Coach Otis Hughley as Senegal tries to capture a 12th trophy.

Yacine Diop

Being the team captain means carrying a lot of responsibility. Diop is due for a big tournament, and having the leadership mantle could inspire her to step up for Senegal. The 30-year-old can put up good numbers, like she did in 2021 (13.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists).

She was 7/11 in the paint against Nigeria two years ago, and she can put it up from three-point range when necessary. So Senegal can trust that their captain will not shy away when the heat is on.

Uganda

Road to Qualification

Uganda finished at the top of Zone 5 AfroBasket qualifiers earlier in the year.

Team History & previous tournament run

The East Africans are a rising force, and their dominance of the zonal qualifiers, which included beating powerhouse Egypt in February, is a signal that Uganda have hit a new curve.

After beating Senegal in the group stages in the 2023 AfroBasket and finishing seventh out of the 12 teams that year, it’s clear the Gazelles were ready to take a new leap. They will face a different Senegal this year, but the Ugandans will also have grown in confidence. Given their performance in the qualifiers, they are going to be a tough match-up this year.

Player to watch

Jane Asinde

The Gazelles team captain has had a rise in stock from the 2023 AfroBasket. After posting 13 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists two years ago, Asinde saw her numbers improve significantly in the qualifiers for this year’s tournament (18.8 points, 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists).  

If Asinde, who plays her club basketball in Spain for Duran Maquinaria Ensino, can match those numbers in Cote d’Ivoire, then Uganda can make significant inroads this year.

Paige Robinson

Robinson, who joined Uganda through naturalisation, showed her quality at the Zone 5 qualifiers, averaging 15.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists. Uganda will count on Robinson for buckets at the AfroBasket. While she got points in the paint (21/37) during the qualifiers, her shooting (11/36) from three-point range was at times sketchy. She will want to improve on that going into the tournament.

Guinea

Road to qualification

The West Africans qualified for this year’s AfroBasket through a wild card.

Team history & previous tournament run

Guinea are a far cry from the team that made the final of the tournament in 1966. The Guineans managed one win in the 2023 tournament, beating former champions Angola in the group stages.  Not much is expected from this Guinean side, and given the strength of the group, it will be hard to see them beat Senegal and Uganda. Since finishing fifth in 1970, Guinea have not fared any better in the preceding tournaments.

Players to watch

Masseny Kaba

Forward Masseny Kaba had a great 2023 AfroBasket (17 points and 9.3 rebounds), and the Guineans will cross their fingers that she can replicate that form this year.  If Guinea is to have a fighter’s chance at the AfroBasket, a player like Kaba has to be at her best.

Fatoumata Jallow

Shooting guard Jallow also saw her performances improve in the 2023 tournament. Jallow’s 12 points and 4.2 rebounds in Rwanda two years ago were an improvement from her first tournament in 2021.