Women's AfroBasket 2023: How Guinea plan to play party-poopers
Guinea's women's team aim to cause an upset at the AfroBasket. Silver medallists in 1966, Guinea finished bottom in 2021.
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Knocked out in the first round at the last edition of the AfroBasket in Cameroon in 2021, finishing twelfth and last, Guinea go into this 21st edition in a tricky position. Beaten by Ivory Coast in the zonal qualifying tournament, the Syli women have been drawn in Group B alongside Cameroon and Mozambique, two heavyweights of continental basketball. It is a situation that has the Syli coach's attention. "Our group is tough. Mozambique even beat Senegal, who are the most successful nation on the continent. That shows the level of this team. As for Cameroon, they need no introduction. They won bronze at the previous edition on home soil. They remain a great basketball nation", says Ousmane Tafsir Camara.
"We have girls ready to cause upsets"
To have a chance of spoiling the party, Guinea will have to be at their best. "We are here, as always, to cause upsets. What is interesting this year is that we have girls who are ready to cause upsets and show that Guinea are here", the coach reassures.
Top scorer for the side in qualifying, Masseny Kaba, who has signed for Angers in the French top flight, remains the Syli's main weapon. Having played in Italy and featured in the WNBA Summer League with the Chicago Sky, her experience should prove useful to the Guinea squad. Alongside her is Aicha Mara, who plays for AS Monaco in the French top flight. Ousmane Tafsir Camara says they are significant reinforcements for the team. "With Masseny, Aicha Mara and the other home-based players, they have potential, they are warriors and they are ready to fight. In terms of potential, it is interesting".
" I would like to deliver the best women's AfroBasket "
In charge of the national team since 2017, the coach has big ambitions for this edition. "With this group I would like to deliver the best women's AfroBasket with them", says Ousmane Tafsir Camara.
Twelfth and last two years ago in Cameroon, Guinea are the lowest-ranked team of those taking part in this edition of the women's AfroBasket. Ranked 99th in the world and 17th in Africa, Guinea see that as extra motivation.
Far from being one of the best basketball nations on the continent, the Guinean Amazons want to give it a bold go against opponents supposedly stronger than them. In their ninth appearance at the AfroBasket, Guinea will try to improve on the twelfth place they achieved two years ago.
Mamadou Gongorè DIALLO