Otis Hughley Jr. Takes the Helm for Senegal Women's Team Ahead of 2026 World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament!

Otis Hughley Jr. Takes the Helm for Senegal Women's Team Ahead of 2026 World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament!

The summer of 2024 has delivered several noteworthy headlines and developments involving African basketball, with the Senegal Basketball Federation's recent appointment capturing the attention of the global basketball community.

The Federation has appointed Otis Hughley Jr. as the new head coach of the women's national team. This decision follows the departure of interim head coach Alberto Antuña Leal, who was brought in to guide the Lionesses in their quest for qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Antuña Leal's contract extension was contingent on Senegal's qualification for the Olympics. However, following the team's failure to secure a spot, the Federation opted to release the Spanish-born coach.

Via a press release, the Senegal Basketball Federation made the following statement regarding Alberto Antuña Leal:

The Senegalese Basketball Federation thanks Alberto Antuña Leal for the work accomplished at thehead of the women's national team and wishes him good luck for the rest of his career.

Otis Hughley Jr. was originally the Federation's first choice to lead the team. However, due to his commitments with the Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team, he was unavailable in February 2024 to coach Senegal's senior women's team in the pre-Olympic tournament.

Hughley Jr. brings a wealth of experience to the position, with a distinguished 31-year coaching career at the NCAA and professional and international levels in both men's and women's basketball. His impressive resume includes leading the Nigerian women's national team to three FIBA Women's AfroBasket titles in 2017, 2019, and 2021 and securing qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The Senegal Basketball Federation is unwavering in their confidence that Hughley Jr.'s extensive experience and proven track record will significantly contribute to the development and success of the women's national team as they aim to reclaim their position at the pinnacle of African basketball.

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[Photography / Imagery Courtesy of SLAM.com and hvilleblast.com]