Senegal: An African monument
For years, Senegal's women's dominated basketball in Africa. But three gold medal-less FIBA Africa Championships in a row, the last at home in 2007, has brought change. Now, with a new coach and some youngsters in the squad, Senegal want to reclaim their place at the top on the continent. Will that start with a trip to Beijing?
The Senegal women's National Team is no longer the most powerful in Africa. Between 1974 and 2001, the Lionesses won nine of a possible 12 gold medals at FIBA Africa Championships. Now, the women are seeking their first continental title since 2000. That's right, 2000! The 2001 continental championship was, in fact, played in December 2000, in Radès, Tunisia. Senegal lost in the semi-finals in 2003, 63-62 to hosts Mozambique. Two years later, Nigeria defeated the Senegalese 64-57 in the title game and Mali did the same in 2007, 65-58, in a FIBA Africa Championship that was played in Senegal.
The disappointments have brought a lot of change. A new coach is now in place to prepare a new and ambitious team for the coming years. The 2007 FIBA Africa Championship, which was staged in Dakar, was supposed to herald a new, triumphant age of Senegalese basketball. The event was held after the renovation of the city's legendary arena, the Stadium Marius N'Diaye. There was also the complete refurbishment of the Stadium Lat Dior in Thiès. This gave Senegal two fully-equipped gyms, a perfect setting for such a prestigious tournament. On the court, however, the loss in the title showdown against old border rivals Mali destabilized the whole of basketball in the country. Magatte Diop had been chosen because of his experience in international competitions, which included one participation in the FIBA World Championship for Men as head coach and five FIBA Africa Championships as technical director, and as coach of the 2007 women's team. But he was asked to resign.
The new technical director, Ousseynou Ndiaga Diop, a former assistant for the women's National Team and long-time coach of Jeanne d'Arc club in Dakar, hired Moustapha Gaye as Matatte Diop's replacement. "I have the obligation to restore my players' confidence," he said, before looking back to 2007. "No one likes to lose a tournament as hosts ... I accept that we have to raise the psychological aspect of the group." Senegal will battle for a place in Beijing with five places up for grabs at the qualifying tournament in Madrid come June. Gaye's team is in Group A with Japan and Latvia. "It will be difficult, but not impossible," he said. "I don't know too much about Latvia's game, but Japan are difficult opponents."
Three emblematic players have decided not to continue since the 2007 disappointment. Astou Ndiaye, one of the best players in Senegal's history with eight WNBA seasons under her belt, has said no more just as the two forwards of the Dakar University Club, Adama Diakhaté and Anta Sy. The new leaders are big-scoring forward Aya Traoré, and point guard Mame Diodio Diouf. The latter is so dazzling at times that she has what some of her compatriots believe to be a magic left hand. Strong man-to-man defence, according to the Senegalese basketball philosophy, will be the approach Gaye's team is expected to take in Madrid. Also, there is the addition of French-born players that will be closely followed since it's a first in the building of the women's National Team.
How did they qualify?
2007 FIBA Africa Championship, Final Round
Silver Medal (7 W - 1 L)
Results
Preliminary Round
Sept-20th 2007
Senegal b. Côte d'Ivoire 62-37
Sept-22nd 2007
Senegal b. Tunisia 58-43
Sept-23rd 2007
Senegal b. Mozambique 59-42
Sept-25th 2007
Senegal b. Madagascar 100-36
Sept-26th 2007
Senegal b. Mali 48-37
Quarter Final
Sept-28th 2007
Senegal b. DR Congo 76-49
Semi-final
Sept-29th 2007
Senegal b. Mozambique 63-48
Final
Sept-30th 2007
Mali b. Senegal 65-58
