West African side Senegal is on the brink of missing out on the 2017 African Basketball Championship, AfroBasket, in the lead up to the second phase of qualifiers set to take place between March 24-26 in Bamako, Mali.
Senegal recorded two losses and a win in the first phase of qualifiers in Zone 2 against Cape Verde, Guinea and Mali.
The side lost 55-68 to minnows Guinea in what has been a disappointing qualifying series.
Africa’s fourth ranked side, is set to get a boost ahead of this week’s qualifiers with French-based pair Xane D’Almeida and Maleye N’Doye set to join the team.
Senegal placed fourth at the 2015 AfroBasket but is missing high profile players including Gorgui Dieng of Minnesota Timberwolves and Georges Niang of Indiana Pacers in the NBA.
This year’s AfroBasket Championship takes place in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo between August 19-30. Fellow West African side Nigeria are the reigning Champions and have automatically secured a spot in the upcoming Championship.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
