FIBA U18 Men's AfroBasket Team Preview: Senegal

FIBA U18 Men's AfroBasket Team Preview: Senegal

Senegal’s presence at the FIBA U18 AfroBasket is the real incarnation of one man’s disappointment being another’s blessing. The team only qualified for the U18 Afrobasket in Pretoria, South Africa, from 1 to 14 September 2024, after Guinea withdrew, presenting them an avenue to contest for continental domination. Heading into their ninth U18 AfroBasket, the Senegalese are keen on showing the continent their mettle.

KEY PLAYERS AND EXPECTATIONS

Senegal’s coach Parfait Adjivon prides himself in being a tactician who’s always innovating, and there’s no doubt that Senegal’s build-up to the tournament from the call-up of players to the training camp has been quite peculiar.

Parfait Adjivon rather than scouting for his players, sent out a statement, asking all young Senegalese who wanted to play for the team to manifest their interest in writing.

“I asked all young Senegalese who wanted to be part of the squad to apply by sending me a video and their administrative papers. To do this, I received no less than one hundred and five applications from around the world. I sorted them out, and today I have selected around fifteen. Four players from the Seed Academy in Senegal, one from the NBA Academy in Senegal, three from France, and others from Spain. A homogeneous group that allows me to believe that we will reach the final.” coach Parfait Adjivon

To achieve this goal, the group has been working for over two months. First with an external camp at the end of June and then another camp on 10 August 2024 with several friendlies.

Coach Adjivon seems contented with his team, describing it as “more complete”, citing the presence of physically imposing players and a significant squad depth. With only four players from the team that featured in a tournament in Bamako present in the side, it is a new-look side that heads to Pretoria with big ambitions.

But to do so, they will have to get rid of Group A rivals Mali, and Cameroon, who have been in South Africa since August 21 to fine-tune their preparations.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Senegal will be featuring in their ninth U18 AfroBasket, having won the competition once in 2012 in Mozambique, overpowering Cote D’Ivoire 71-62 in the final. Twice they’ve tried reenacting that feat and, on both occasions, they’ve failed, losing the 2018 final by two points 78-76 to Mali and again falling two years later to the same opponent and by the same point margin 82-80 to settle for two silver medals.

The country also picked up a bronze medal in 1982 and is hoping to finish on the podium, as they aspire for a stint in next year’s FIBA U19 World Cup.

‍

[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of FIBA]