Mali basketball: Federation elections held amid behind-the-scenes talks

Me Jean-Claude Sidibé, a former president of the Malian Basketball Federation (2014-2017), is standing to lead Malian basketball once again. The former Mali sports minister is the clear favourite in the election for president of the (FMBB), scheduled for this Friday, 30 December 2022. His action programme, called the 2023-2026 strategic plan, is built around five themes: how the administration of the federal office of the leagues and districts operates, setting up a functional and competent national technical directorate, basketball in schools and in centres, support for clubs in the 1st and 2nd divisions, and, finally, ongoing training for those involved in the game.

To deliver this programme, he will have the backing of El Hadji Djibrila Cissé, competitions officer on the outgoing board. Cissé had announced his own candidacy but has now rallied behind the former minister. However, he is expected to face a challenger, Moustapha Touré, president of the basketball section of Stade Malien de Bamako, who is the standard-bearer for the other candidates. Alkaya Touré, a FIBA expert, Moussa Touré, a former international basketball referee, and Souleymane Coulibaly, president of basketball district 6 in Bamako, have all lined up behind him. Unlike Jean-Claude Sidibé, he presents himself as the candidate of change, up against a former president of the governing body. And his action plan is built around 7 points that are similar to the programme of the Sidibé-Cissé duo.

To ensure a calm election, talks are under way so that the two camps speak with one voice. "4 people in a group can only bring their own expertise. We are not the only ones who know it all. If there are people who can help, we take them and put them in the team. I mainly spoke with Moussa Touré. Today we have a lot of problems with our referees. You are a former referee, I told him: 'come and run this commission, you have the skills, the 4 should be here to withdraw their candidacies, but they came to tell me they don't agree, that they want 7 seats, I said no.' If I win, I will not accept any action aimed at destabilising basketball", said Me Jean-Claude Sidibé at the presentation of his action programme on Tuesday 27 December, in front of the press.

It should be noted that nine leagues will vote this Friday to install a new board. It will be led by one of the two candidates, who will face the heavy task of turning around Malian basketball, which has been mired in a crisis lasting several months.