June 30, 2016
Countdown to Manila OQT: 5 days
Senegal has announced on Tuesday the national basketball team’s final 12 for the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, Philippines next week.
The 12 players suiting up for head coach Porfirio Fisac are Louis Adams, Serigne Bamba Gueye, Clevin Hannah, Cheikh Tidiane Mbodj, Antoine Mendy, El Hadji Malick Ndiaye, Hamady Ndiaye, Maurice Ndour, Abdoulaye Ndoye, Maleye Ndoye, Thierno Ibrahima Niang, and Ibrahima Thomas.
Senegal will be without big man Gorgui Dieng, who led the team in scoring and rebounding during the 2015 FIBA AfroBasket Championship. The team will also be missing the services of Muhammad Faye, who suited up in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, and top playmaker Xane Dalmeida, who averaged 9.1 PPG and 7.4 APG in the most recent AfroBasket.
The returning Hamady Ndiaye, also a 2014 FIBA World Cup participant, is expected to boost Senegal’s chances. The team will also be relying more on Antoine Mendy, the team’s second-leading scorer during the AfroBasket.
Senegal is in Group A of the Manila OQT and is situated Canada and Turkey in the group phase.
