As the 2024 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifiers draw near, coach Oumarou Sidiya Maiga faces the challenging task of assembling a strong squad for Mali.
With the first-ever Women’s World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournaments scheduled to take place in Mexico and Rwanda between 19-25 August, Maiga is keen on leveraging Mali’s abundant basketball talent, despite potential player availability issues due to academic commitments abroad.
Mali will compete in Group A in Mexico, alongside South Korea, Czechia, and Venezuela. Group B features hosts Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, and Mozambique.
The winner from each group will advance to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments in March 2026.
In an exclusive interview with FIBA.basketball, Coach Maiga outlined his strategic approach to team selection.
“Team selection considers all the talents we have home and around the world. The target for this assignment is to introduce as many young players to the senior team as possible because we have a good pool,” Maiga said.
However, he acknowledged the hurdles, noting, “It is not all smooth sailing as some of those in the USA have school programs that sometimes clash with such assignments and we are forced to do without them.”
Maiga aims to create a squad that blends experience with emerging talent. He is keen on utilizing available internationals alongside Mali-based players to form “a homogeneous and balanced group.” This approach is crucial, given the limited time available for preparation.
Mali’s recent performances at the U19 Women’s Basketball World Cups in 2021 and 2023 underscore the nation’s rich basketball talent. Mali finished fifth in the 2023 U19 World Cup, with standout performances from Maimouna Haidara.
Haidara not only led Mali to its impressive finish but also made history by recording 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 steals against Chinese Taipei – the highest number of steals ever in a FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup game. Her triple-double was only the third in the history of the tournament.
Haidara, who has already showcased her skills at senior level in the Women’s AfroBasket 2021 and the Women’s World Cup 2022, is expected to be a key player in Maiga’s squad.
Another significant inclusion Maiga hopes for is WNBA star Sika Kone. Since her debut in 2017, Kone has consistently impressed for Mali. She made history at the 2021 U19 World Cup in Hungary, leading Mali to its first-ever semi-final appearance in a FIBA tournament and earning a spot on the all-tournament team. Her stats – 19.7 points per game and 14.8 rebounds – were among the best in the competition, highlighting her immense talent.
“In the age group competitions, preparations are in-depth and work is done over time because most of the playing unit is in the country unlike at the senior level where majority are foreign-based. It is a different ball game, but we hope to have a good squad, and quickly,” Maiga concluded.
Mali’s participation in the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup came after replacing Nigeria, who withdrew from the tournament. Mali last appeared in the competition in 2010 in Czechia, making their return after a long hiatus.
As the pre-qualifiers approach, Coach Maiga’s focus remains on building a competitive squad capable of advancing to the next stage and eventually making a significant impact on the global stage. The upcoming matches in Mexico will be crucial in assessing the team’s readiness and potential as they embark on this exciting journey.
Source: FIBA
