Senegal Edges Hungary in Thrilling FIBA Women's World Cup Pre-Qualifying Opener

Senegal Beat Hungary in Thrilling Opener at FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament

In a nail-biting opening game of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Rwanda, Senegal narrowly defeated Hungary 63-61. The victory was a testament to Senegal's early game emphasis on lockdown defence and balanced team effort, as they out-rebounded Hungary 29-26 and led the game in team steals 12-5.

Under the guidance of newly hired coach Otis Hughley Jr., Senegal's starting five—Cierra Dillard, Arame Niang, Fatou Pouye, Fatou Diagne, and Captain Yacine Diop—set the tone early with aggressive lockdown defence that surprised the Europeans. By the halfway point of the first quarter, Ndioma Kane, who would go on to lead all scorers with 21 points, gave Senegal a slim lead with two free throws (10-8). Kane's impact continued as she sparked a 9-3 run with a spectacular block, helping Senegal close out the first quarter ahead 20-16.

In the second quarter, Senegal extended its lead to 14 points (34-20) thanks to a 7-0 run ignited by Kane's buzzer-beating three-pointer. Hungary, however, chipped away at the lead, and by halftime, the score was 37-30 in favour of Senegal.

Hungary fought back in the third quarter, holding Senegal to just seven points while scoring 14. Despite a 12-0 run by Hungary that tied the game at 42-42, Senegal managed to regain the lead by the end of the quarter, thanks to Khadidiatou Sarr's crucial layup after a Hungarian turnover.

The final quarter was an instance scrap, with both teams scoring 19 points. Questionable officiating added to the drama, including a technical foul on Coach Hughley Jr. and a controversial out-of-bounds call. Senegal opened the quarter strong with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 54-42. However, Hungary clawed back, cutting the lead to one point (56-55) with just under two minutes remaining.

In the closing moments, Senegal's Cierra Dillard, Yacine Diop, and Ndioma Kane kept Hungary at bay. A crucial defensive rebound by Madjiguene Sene at the final buzzer sealed the victory for Senegal, who led for a total of 36 minutes and received a significant boost from their bench, which contributed 40 points.

Senegal's hard-fought win in their first game of the tournament sets a promising tone as they continue their quest for a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.

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[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]