Afrobasket 2023 (W): Aya Traoré - "Against Mali, we'll need all 12 of us"
Aya Traoré: "Against Mali, we'll need all 12 of us." Against Uganda, the forward was left carrying too much of the load with her 29 points.
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Senegal were stunned in their opening game at the women's Afrobasket on Saturday 29 July, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The Lionesses lost 85-83 to Uganda, supposedly the weakest side in Group C. It was a heavy setback for Senegal.
"We're really disappointed, and there's no hiding it. Even though we knew the Ugandan team would put up a fight. We saw them play against Mali, but we didn't expect that level of resistance. What was going to happen has happened, and we mustn't dwell on this defeat. We have to pick ourselves up quickly for tomorrow's game (this Sunday 30 July against Mali)," said the Senegal captain. As Aya Traoré suggests, this slip-up needs to be forgotten quickly.
29 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Uganda are now history, and a far tougher opponent in Mali awaits the Lionesses this Sunday 30 July. The Eagles combine power and technique in their game. Aya Traoré, who has locked horns with the Malians several times in epic encounters, knows it well. "It's always tough playing Mali. It's a derby. We have to win the game against Mali to progress in the competition", confirms the two-time African champion (in 2009 and 2015).
Aya Traoré, who scored 29 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists against Uganda, will naturally be one of Senegal's most closely watched players as they try to overcome the Malians. Even so, she prefers to put the team first. "Basketball is a team sport. Today (Saturday) it was Cieera and I who had the hot hand. Tomorrow, it might be other players. For the game against Mali, we'll need all 12 of us", stressed Aya.
Women's Afrobasket 2023: full schedule and results
Jim CEESAY
(Special correspondent)