Astou Named Senegal Basketball Capt for WC, Ex-Skipper Axed

Senegal Women’s basketball Coach Sheikh Sarr has named Astou Traore captain of his team as they prepare for the FIBA 2019 Women’s World Cup in Spain.

The news comes this week after the team wrapped up its training session at the stadium Marius Ndiaye.

Sarr recently trimmed his initial 24-player roster to 19, leaving out former captain Aya Traore who led the lionesses since 2011.

Aya was the team’s leader in the 2017 Women’s AfroBasket hosted in Mali, where Senegal won silver after losing to champions D’Tigeress of Nigeria in the final.

Earlier this month, Coach Sarr said, it was not due to performance that the former captain was left out, but was rather based on his own vision.

“It is true that Aya has done a lot for Senegal, she has dominated at her post, even if it is not the case, that’s not the reason for her absence. I want to direct my leadership to my own vision, and here you need a different captaincy,” Coach Sarr said.

The new captain, and 2017 Afrobasket MVP, Traore, has welcomed her appointment and promised to continue her role, ensuring the lionesses thrive in the World Cup in Spain.

The team will continue training in Dakar until September 6, before flying to France for the rest of the course.

Senegal are pitted in Group D among tough opponents including Olympic and World champions- USA, China and Latvia,

Image: Getty