The Senegalese Basketball Federation has appointed Moustapha Gaye as the country’s women national basketball team ahead of the Olympic Games Basketball Tournament.
This marks the second time Gaye has been appointed as the team’s head coach following an earlier run around where he guided Senegal to a gold medal in the 2015 Afro Basket Championship held in Yaounde, Cameroon.
His appointment comes as no surprise as Gaye was the frontrunner in the race for the top job. The Olympics will be the sixth major championship Gaye will be the “Lionesses” technical head.
Speaking ahead of the Olympics following his appointment, he said:
“I have to admit that we may not be at world class level yet, but the Olympics will help our team team get better.”
“The only thing I can say about our campaign at the Olympics is that we are going to do our best. Right now I am already scouting players of Senegalese heritage from across Europe. If they are good enough I will give them a chance.”
Five teams, Australia, Brazil, Serbia, USA, Japan, Canada and Senegal – have already qualified for the Rio Games with the remaining five spots to be decided in a qualifying tournament set to take place in Nantes, France between June 13 and June 19.
