Senegal National Men’s Basketball Team Point Guard Clevin Hannah has debunked assertions the Lions can compete against teams in the preliminary stage of this year’s World Cup.
The West African nation is drawn in Group H at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China alongside Lithuania, Canada and Australia in the Group of Death.
Many have ruled out Senegal progressing to the next stage of the competition which is due to have 32 nations compete for the first time.
Teams that finish in the top seven places qualify automatically to the 2020 Olympic Games due to take place in Tokyo, Japan.
Speaking to FIBA, 31 year old New York born Hannah believes Senegal can beat the odds stating, “ I think Senegal can compete with any team because of the heart we play with and the athletes we have…There is so much talent in Senegal and they showed it by qualifying for the World Cup again”.
Hannah plays for Gran Canaria in Spain’s ACB League and graduated from Wichita State University.
Angola, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Nigeria are the other African teams to play in China.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
