FIBA U19 WOMEN

#FIBAU19 Women : Mali make more U19 history with Semi-Finals berth

By La Redaction basketmali

Posted on Aug 14, 2021

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Temps de lecture : 1 mn 🕗

DEBRECEN (Hungary) – More history was made at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2021 as Mali became the first African side to advance to the Semi-Finals of the competition.

2019 was a magnificent year for Mali. Now, this could be massive in 2021. Mali is one win away from a first-ever medal for an African side at the event having surpassed their own best finish of two years ago with a scintillating display to inflict a first loss on 2017 winners, Russia.

“It feels great,” Sika Kone declared post-game. “Before we arrived here, we had some complications and then lost our first game. That gave us the motivation to keep going and really show that we can do something.

“We were all excited to be here – we wanted to play well and we knew that we can do something in this tournament. We believe in ourselves, and Mali believes in us.”

Sika Kone led the way once again with 19 points and 11 rebounds, but it was a truely collective effort and the emotions spilled out onto the court for jubilant scenes at the buzzer. Russia could not buy a score in the final period – going 0-of-15 from the field – with Mali taking full advantage to race clear for a memorable win.