Afrobasket 2023 - Yacine Diop: "My year out means I come back fresher"
Yacine Diop has spoken for the first time about her provisional selection, insisting she is not affected by the attacks on social media.
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Yacine Diop, how are you feeling after nearly two years on the sidelines?
Yacine Diop: Personally, I feel good because I haven't been sitting idle. I was training the whole time. I've fitted into the group well. I feel good. People know what I can bring to the team, both offensively and defensively. I hear in the press that I went two years without playing. It was just this past year. I had things to sort out and I didn't want to wait until after my career to do it. That's why I took that break. I enjoyed that break. It allowed me to come back fresher. I'm ready to play again.
Why did you decide to terminate your contract in France in 2021?
After the Afrobasket, I went back to my club. They hadn't given me any rest. I was training morning and evening, almost 10 sessions before every game. I couldn't keep up that pace and I decided to stop. I gained experience and I had two knee operations. I came back home. I stayed in Dakar between January and April before going back to Spain.
Yacine Diop: "It will hurt me if I don't make the 12"
Your provisional selection has raised a lot of questions. What is your view on that?
I have no comment to make on my provisional selection. The coach draws up his list and he decided to pick me in the provisional squad. So I just have to prove that I'm ready and that I have the qualities to be part of the team. I'm not interested in what people say.
At last Monday's press conference, the head coach said the ball is in your court. Is that pressure or motivation?
It's a source of motivation. I feel no pressure. It's true that I haven't played games for a long time, but I train regularly. I'm not afraid and I'm confident. The coach has faith in me and I'll do everything not to let him down. I'm ready. It will hurt me if I don't make the 12. I'm not here just to make up the numbers. I believe I'll be in the group.
Senegal haven't won since 2015. What must be done to get back to the top?
I think nothing is impossible. The podium can mean 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. We talk about the podium, but we want to win. We're not here just to train and take part for the sheer pleasure of it. We're aiming high. To get back to our usual place, I think we have to rediscover that winning culture. We have to get it into our heads that we're going there to bring back the trophy. I think we have to get that into our heads, play as a team and give ourselves the means to go beyond that.