In the aftermath of Senegal winning the rights to host the 2019 FIBA Women’s Africa Basketball Championship (AfroBasket), National Female Team Coach Cheikh Sarr has described playing the tournament before a passionate home crowd as “challenging”.
Senegal was named the host nation for the biannual tournament which begins in August ahead of Mali and Madagascar. The ultra modern Dakar Arena will host the tournament.
Speaking to FIBA, Sarr noted his side has to do more in the upcoming tournament to avoid a repeat of the 2007 edition where the West African nation held the competition but placed second after losing to Mali in the final.
“It’s a huge challenge…This is the African championship. We play at home, and it is an opportunity to make the most of it. But also there is a lot of pressure, because as hosts we want to win it” he said.
Senegal is the most successful nation in the competition’s history with 11 titles to its credit. Fellow West Africans Nigeria are the defending champions.
By Yaw Adjei-Mintah
@YawMintYM on Twitter
