Yacine Diop

Can Senegal emerge from the shadows in Puerto Rico?

Leave a Comment

SENEGAL women’s national basketball team – commonly known as the Lionesses – have qualified for eight FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tournaments. Ahead of their qualifying campaign in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the question is whether the West African side can secure a ninth appearance at this year’s tournament in Germany.

However, the Lionesses appear to be a shadow of the team that once dominated African basketball, winning the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title 11 times and last qualified for the global showpiece in 2018.

At the most recent AfroBasket, Senegal narrowly lost their semi-final clash to Nigeria Women’s National Basketball Team, 75–68, before falling 66–65 to South Sudan Women’s National Basketball Team in the bronze medal game. Despite those setbacks, reaching the 2025 semi-finals automatically secured Senegal a place in the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournaments. The Lionesses head into the qualifiers as one of Africa’s most experienced teams.

Senegal appointed Dr Cheikh Sarr as head coach in early 2026 to lead the Lionesses. Sarr is a renowned African coach; he led the Senegalese men’s team at the 2018 FIBA World Cup and to third-place finishes at AfroBasket 2013 and 2015. He takes over from Otis Hughley Jr., who coached the team at last year’s Women’s AfroBasket.

Dr Cheikh Sarr led Senegal’s women to the 2018 Women’s World Cup. Pictures: FIBA Africa

Key Players & Team Strengths

Yacine Diop (Forward): A veteran swingman, Diop averaged 9.0 ppg in Abidjan, with her ability to hit midrange jumpers and rebound (4.3 rpg in AfroBasket 2025), she provides leadership and toughness inside.

Sokhna Ndiaye (Centre): A strong post presence and rebounder. Ndiaye scored 8.6 ppg and grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game at AfroBasket. Her size and interior scoring help anchor the paint on both ends.

Khadija Faye (Centre): Another frontcourt veteran. She averaged 5.3 rebounds per game in Abidjan and offers interior defence. Faye also has range on her shot from beyond the arc.

Ndioma Kané (Guard): A crafty combo guard who can handle the ball. Kané averaged 4.2 assists per game at AfroBasket, showing she can run the offence and find teammates.

Team Strengths

Offensive Matchups: Diop and Ndiaye can post up smaller forwards, so look for mismatch play in the paint. Kansas’s athleticism could also target teams with weaker rebounding.

Defensive Adjustments: The absence of a true shot blocker from Senegal’s roster could force them to rely on double teams against strong post players. If opposing teams feature quick guards, Kané will need to elevate his defensive impact. Against athletic backcourts such as those of the USA or Spain, Senegal might aim to control the tempo and potentially employ full-court traps to disrupt the offence.

 

Yacine Diop has been a mainstay in the Senegal setup.

Qualifying Group

Senegal will play in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in Group A. The group includes the USA, Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, and New Zealand. This is an extremely difficult draw: the USA and Spain are perennial powerhouses. Senegal’s immediate goals will be to secure wins over Italy, New Zealand, and host Puerto Rico. Games against the USA and Spain will be tough, but the Lionesses must play to win whenever possible.

Qualifying Chances

On paper, Senegal faces a very challenging path. In group play, the Lionesses will be heavy underdogs versus the USA and Spain. To qualify, they will likely need to steal a victory from one of the mid-tier teams (Italy or New Zealand) and split games with Puerto Rico.

Senegal has valuable experience, and it could come to the fore on the big stage. However, consistency will be critical. If Senegal wins their winnable games or possibly causes an upset against one of the favourites, it could finish in the top three. Historically, the team has risen to the moment in Africa, but the World Cup qualifiers will demand their best.

Can Senegal emerge from the shadows in Puerto Rico? Read More »

African giants Nigeria and Senegal set for epic battle

Leave a Comment

THE Women’s AfroBasket semi-final battle on Saturday at the Palais de Sports de Treichville pits together two of the greatest to have bounced a basketball in Africa, Senegal and Nigeria. Nigeria is the new force in African basketball, the six-time champions and is gunning for number seven. Senegal is Africa’s most successful team with 11 trophies, and they will look to reclaim lost glory.

Interestingly, two West African giants will meet for the first time in an AfroBasket semi-final. In recent years, Nigeria and Senegal have contested the last four finals of the biennial women’s tournament, with the spoils of those victories going to the D’Tigress of Nigeria. Apart from having Senegal’s number in the four finals, Nigeria has five more victories, which include another final in 2005, while the Lionesses have managed four wins in head-to-head battles between the two nations.

Route to the last four

Nigeria

From the group stages, the ferocious D’Tigress had no desire to play the role of the hunted. They understood that their title defence required them to be on the prowl. The starter in Group D for the Nigerians was Rwanda, which showed little resistance as the D’Tigress feasted on them (92-47).

Up next was Mozambique – a stubborn prey that battled to the bitter end – but Nigeria managed to wrestle them to the ground and eked out a 60-55 win.

It was a perfect start for the five-time champs, who secured their quarter-final spot with a 2-0 record.

Statement win over Cameroon

The D’Tigress would have thought that Cameroon would give them a fight of their lives in the quarter finals, but it was not the case. Nigeria made light work of the Central Africans, beating them 83-47.

Okonkwo
Amy Okonkwo and the D’Tigress will have Senegal’s number. Pictures: FIBA Africa

The key players and their numbers

Amy Okonkwo

The MVP of the last Women’s AfroBasket, Okonkwo, has been the sharp point of Nigeria’s attack. She had her best game against Cameroon, scoring 18 points and crashing 15 boards. Okonkwo’s presence in the paint and ability to stretch the floor give Nigeria the edge over any opponent. She 2/2 from three-point range, 4/10 in the paint area and 8/10 from the free throw line. The 28-year-old Murjanatur will be expected to produce more of the same when the D’Tigress face off against Senegal.

Murjanatu Musa

Musa has seen her production levels increase with every international competition, and in this AfroBasket, she is one of Nigeria’s statistical leaders. The power forward had 12-point games against Rwanda and Mozambique, and in the opening game, she had 10 rebounds. Wakama will expect more from Musa in Côte d’Ivoire, and given her improvement, the 25-year-old will demand more from herself.

Musa has a superb mid-range shot, and she is a good pick-and-roll player, which always puts her in scoring situations. Her rebounding and defensive prowess are a plus for the D’Tigress as they look to defend their title.

Route to the last four

Senegal

Senegal must have left fans wondering if they will do well in this year’s AfroBasket. While their followers may have been concerned, the players would know that the AfroBasket is a marathon and not a sprint. They started strong in Group C by dismantling a lowly Guinea 92-48, but as they did two years ago, they fell again to Uganda (73-70).  Following their second-place finish on the log, they had to go the playoff route. The Senegalese masterfully took down Rwanda 80-37.

Senegal spoiled the party for the Ivorians

Against a strong host nation and its partisan fans, Senegal showed heart after trailing in the first three quarters. From the fourth, the Lionesses showed their experience and were worthy 66-60 victors.

Dillard Senegal
Cierra Dillard and Senegal have overcome the mental block against Nigeria.

Key players and their numbers

Cierra Dillard

The American-born point guard has made the point guard position hers with the national team. In the quarter-final victory against Côte d’Ivoire, Dillard posted 16 points, six defensive rebounds, four assists and three steals. Dillard has led the team with her ability to dictate play, find teammates and get buckets. After the disappointment of the final in Rwanda, Dillard will aim to set things right against Nigeria in Abidjan.

Yacine Diop

A veteran of three AfroBasket and knows the feeling of coming second best to Nigeria. As the leader of the team, Diop has to rally her team against a foe that has had the best of them over the years. Her 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists will boost Senegal’s morale and her confidence going into the semi-final against Nigeria.

Outlook

The D’Tigress is the hot favourite in this. Form and history favour Nigeria, but they will face a huge test. Senegal knows they face a mental battle. Should they cross that hurdle, they could finally prevail against Nigeria.

African giants Nigeria and Senegal set for epic battle Read More »

The old guard, a rising force and a darkhorse at play in Group C

Leave a Comment

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.

Dillard Women's AfroBasket
Cierra Dillard will dictate play for Senegal. Pictures: FIBA Africa

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.

Women's AfroBasket Asinde
Jane Asinde will lead a rising Uganda team during the AfroBasket.

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.

Kaba Women's AfroBasket
Masseny Kaba will look to dominate in the paint for Guinea

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.

The old guard, a rising force and a darkhorse at play in Group C Read More »

×
Verified by MonsterInsights