Basketball in Africa

With eight teams making it into the knock-out stage of the 20th Africa Nations Championship for Women holding in Dakar and Thies, Senegal www.fiba-afrique.org bring you the profile of one player each from the eight countries that qualifies for the quarter-finals which dunks off Friday.

Mfon Sunday Udoka is the captain of the Nigerian side and has shown consistency since she makes her debut for the reigning African champion at the 8th All Africa Games hosted in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003.

The 6 feet, 3 inches tall player is a forward, a good leader on and off the court an attribute which has endeared her to basketball lovers both in Nigeria and the Africa continent.

Born in June 16, 1976 in Portland, Oregon in the United States of America, Udoka has seen her career takes her the nook and cranies of the world.

Full profiles of Mfon Sunday Udoka.

Height: 190cm / 6'3''
Position: Power Forward / Center
Born: June 16, 1976 in Portland, OR (USA
Team: Tarbes (France) (2007-07)
Nationality: Nigerian
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Outlook:
A hardworking and experienced player, Udoka brings leadership to any team.
Team Nigeria's captain, Udoka is a former WNBA player with Houston and a member of the Nigerian teams in 2003 and at the 2004 Olympics
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Career:
1997-1998: De Paul (NCAA): Finished as DePaul's No. 2 all-time leading rebounder with 1047 rebounds
2000-2001: Voa Viagem (POR): 26 points, 14 rebounds
2001: Birmingham (NWBL): 15 points, 9 rebounds
2001-2002: Ramat Hasharon (ISR), during the season she went to Beijing (CHN)
2003: Houston (WNBA): 10 minutes -3.2 points, 2 rebounds - Chicago Blaze (NWBL): 18.3 points, 8.7 rebounds
2003-2004: Cadi la Seu D'urgell (ESP): 33.1 minutes. 2.9 Points, 7.5 rebounds
2004-2005: Dynamo-Energia Novosybirsk (RUS-A Superleague,1T): 14 games: 10.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.2spg, 2FGP: 47.0%; Europe Cup: 3 games: 12.7ppg, 11.7rpg, 2.0apg, 0.7spg, in Feb.'06 moved to Mersin BSH Bld (TUR-D1): 9 games: 20.1ppg, 10.0rpg, 1.8apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 53.0%, 3PT: 53.0%, FT: 81.0%
2006 April: Chicago Sky (WNBA) summer camp
2006-2007: In Jan.'07 joined Tarbes Gespe Bigorre (FRA-LFB), left next month: EuroCup: 2 games: 13.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 41.7%, 3FGP: 33.3%, FT: 75%; French League: 6 games: 6.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 2FGP: 54%, 3PT: 14.0%, FT: 50.0%
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Awards/Achievements:
First team All-Conference USA -97, 98
All-Africa Games -03 (Gold), ’07 (Silver)
Nigerian National Team -03-07
Olympic Games in Athens -04
African Championships -05 (Gold, MVP)
Africa Women Championship Best Scorer and Best Rebounder -05
Turkish Cup Semi-finals -06
World Championships in Sao Paulo (BRA) -06

Mozambican point guard and floor leader Ngulela Deolinda was first spotted at the final round of the Africa Champions Club Championship held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in 2001 where she stared for Academica basketball club of Maputo.

Born April 18, 1981, petit Deolinda has since matured into a full grown woman with great court vision, her run down the flank, three points shooting ability and passing skill made for her size.

Deolinda a product of Emporia State University where she play in the America NCAA second division has distinguished herself a visionary leader, she organises her team Mozambique well that her coach and teammate are at rest when she at her best.

Brief Profile of Ngulela Deolinda

Height: 168cm / 5'6''
Position: Guard
Born: Apr.18, 1981
Team: Emporia St. (USA) (2005-06)
Nationality: Mozambican

Career / Comments:
Full name: NGULELA DEOLINDA CARMEN
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Career:
Academica, Maputo ‘01
Maputo, Mozambique/Seward County CC
2005-2006: Emporia St. (NCAA2)
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Awards/Achievements:
Mozambique National Team -07
All-Africa Games -07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07

Senegalese captain Anta Sy is one of the greatest players to have come out of the Africa continent in the last decade, a level headed player, Sy is the engine room of the Senegalese Lioness.

Though she sometime goes on noticed due to her gentle nature, but Sy is a dependable player a great fighter who never gives up.

She has won many laurels both in national team colour and at club level where she earn her living in the colour of Clube Universitário Dakar (DUC), Sy is a likeable fellow any day.

Born, May 14, 1975, Sy makes her national team debut for the national side in 1998 and has remained consistent ever since, at 32 years of age where players less her age have call it quit with the slamming and dunking, Sy is still waxing strong.

Brief profiles of these ‘Lioness’ Anta SY
Position: Power Forward / Center
Born: May 14, 1975
Team: DUC (Senegal) (2007-07)
Nationality: Senegalese

Career:
2007: Clube Universitário Dakar (D1)
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Awards/Achievements:
Senegalese National Team -98-07
World Championships in Germany -98
African Championships -05 (silver)
All-Africa Games –’03 (Silver), 07 (Gold)
Senegalese Cup Winner -07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07

24 years old Malina Centre, Nare Diawara is coach’s delight any day.

France-base the elder of the Diawara sisters in the Malian national team is a treat to opponents especially inside the paint, a dominant player at the post, Nare rebounds and blocks well that players her age will green with envy.

Diawara’s skill caught the eagle eyes of scouts and coaches of San Antonio Silver Stars in the America Women National Basketball Association, WNBA league and was number-30 third round pick and sent to French division-one side USO MONDEVILLE basketball club where she to spend the next basketball season.

She has remained consistent so far in the games the coach Jose Ruiz tutored Malian side here in Dakar, Senegal.

Profile of Nare Diawara
Height: 198cm / 6'6''
Position: Center
Born: January 22, 1983 in Bamako, Mali
Team: Mondeville (France) (2007-08)
Nationality: Malian
College: Virginia Tech

Career / Comments:
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Career:
Bamako, Mali / Chesire Academy
2005-2006: Virginia Tech (NCAA): 30 games: 4.6ppg, 4.3rpg
2006-2007: Virginia Tech (NCAA,1T): 34 games: 12.3ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.6bpg, FGP: 49.5%, FT: 72.3%
2007: Drafted by San Antonio Silver Stars (WNBA,3rd(30))
2007-2008: USO Mondeville (FRA-LFB,1T)
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Awards/Achievements:
Mali National Team -07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07

Legendary Mwadi Marie Mabaki has remained the focal points for aspiring young players in her native country – The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Africa continent.

A great patriot who defy her injury after going under the surgeon knife to be in Senegal for national duty and to act as source of inspiration to her team-mates.

Though sometime she allow her emotion to get the better of her but that has not been able to rob her of the skills she posses as a player.

Mabika, has also being a good ambassador of the Africa continent as she has constantly made the WNBA All-star team.

Details of this great daughter of Africa who can be regarded as a top-boy as she often found playing alongside boys in her early days in her native country.

Height: 180cm / 5'11''
Position: Forward
Born: July 27, 1976
Team: L.Angeles S. (USA) (2007-07)
Nationality: DR Congolese
Previous Teams: Elektra (Israel)
Dynamo M. (Russia)
CSKA (Russia)

Full name: Mabika, Mwadi Marie
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Outlook:
Mwadi is without a doubt the best female basketball player around. She has great passion for the game, similar to that of Magic Johnson. Not to mention her keen ability to shoot anywhere
on the court.
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Career:
2001-2002: Israel
2001: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA,1T)
2002: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA,1T): 16.8ppg
2002-2003: VBM-SGAU Samara (RUS-A Superleague)
2003: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
2003-2004: VBM-SGAU Samara (RUS-A Superleague)
2004: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
2004-2005: Dynamo Moscow (RUS-A Superleague): 21 games: 8.4ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.3apg, 2FGP: 49.0%, 3FGP: 33.0%; Euroleague: 11 games: 8.1ppg, 2.9rpg, 1.1apg, 0.9spg, 2FGP: 33.3%, 3FGP: 36.7%, 3FGP: 85.7%
2005: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA,1T): Regular Season: 17 games: 5.8ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 32%, 3FG: 22.4%
2006 April: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA) summer camp
2006: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA,1T): Regular Season: 32 games: 8.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 37.7%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 88.9%; Play-Offs: 5 games: 15.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.0apg, 1.4spg
2006-2007: Anda Ramat Hasharon (ISR-D1): EuroCup: 11 games: 12.2ppg, 5.0rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 37.5%, 3FGP: 28%, FT: 78.4%; Israeli League: 17 games: 15.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 34.0%, FT-1(93.3%)
2007: Los Angeles Sparks (WNBA)
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Awards/Achievements:
WNBA All-Star Game -00, 02, 04
WNBA Champion -01, 02
All-WNBA 1st Team -02
Israeli League MVP -02
Euroleague Quarterfinals -05
Russian Superleague Regular Season Runner-Up -05
Russian Superleague Finalist -05
WNBA Quarterfinals -05
Dem.Rep. of Congo National Team -05-07
African Championships -05 (semifinals)
WNBA Western Conference Regular Season Champion -06
WNBA Semifinals -06
Europe Cup Quarterfinals -07
Israeli League Finalist -07
Israeli League Regular Season Runner-Up -07
Israeli Cup Finalist -07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07

This young Ivorien player, Kani Kouyate is one of the emerging women players in Africa.

Kani who plays for Club Sportif d’Abidjan is a player that is full of life when on the court, she posse a never-say-die attitude which had distinguished her among her peers.

Born in Treichville area of Abidjan on August 8, 1990, Kouyate played a major role in the Ivories U18 national team Africa Championship in 2006 where the Ivories team lost to eventual winner Mali in the finals.

Though still in her teens, Kouyate is already rubbing shoulder with much older players, a very dependable player that has contributed immensely to the success of the Ivories team here in Senegal.

Brief on this young but energetic player who is predicted to become one of the greatest player to have come out of Africa.

Team: Club Sportif d’Abidjan (CSA) (CIV) -07) Nationality: Ivorian

Career / Comments:
Born: Aug.8, 1990 in Treichville (CIV)
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Career:
2007: CSA (D1,1T)
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Awards/Achievements:
Ivory Coast U18 National Team -06 (Silver)
Ivory Coast National Team -07
Ivory Coast U19 National Team -07
FIBA U19 Championship -07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07

Cameroon guard, Alvine Mendeng is the pilot of her team, 26 year old Mendeng play professional basketball in Israel with Elizur Belisima Holon basketball club and she is expected to bring her wealth of experience to bare when the cameronnian battle mali in the quarter-finals Friday in the 20th Africa Championship for Women.

A graduate of North Carolina State University, 6 foot, one inch tall Mendeng is a great shooter and can also play in the small forward position; she is an asset to any team and can deliver when the chips are down.

Brief profile of Mendeng

Height: 184cm / 6'1''
Position: Shooting Guard / Small Forward
Born: Nov.26, 1981 in Douala, CMR
Team: Elizur B.Hol. ELIZUR BELISIMA HOLON (Israel) (2007-08)
Nationality: Cameroonian
College: N.Carolina St.
Previous teams:
Jerusalem (Israel)
Cankaya (Turkey)
Current Stats

Career / Comments:
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Career:
1999-2000: Ohio HS
N.Carolina St. (NCAA)
2005: San Antonio Silver Stars (WNBA) training camp
2005-2006: Cankaya Universitesi (TUR-D1): 22 games: 13.2ppg, 7.6rpg, 1.9apg, 2.4spg, 2FGP: 41.0%, 3PT: 25.0%, FT: 57.0%
2006-2007: ASA Jerusalem (ISR-D1): 17 games: Score-3(21.2ppg), 9.8rpg, 2.6apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 49.1%, 3PT: 15.0%, FT: 81.7%
2007-2008: Elizur Belisima Holon (ISR-D1,1T)
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Awards/Achievements:
Cameroon National Team -03-07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07

Angola forward Irene Guerreiro stands at 5 feet, 7 inches tall but has a big heart which she has used to the disadvantage of any team that tries to underrate her and her teammates.

Guerreiro, is one of the oldest player in the championship her in Dakar, at 37 years she has kept tenaciously to her game and does not seems to be ready to call it quit with the game that is almost being worshipped in her native country, Angola.

A former player of angola’s famous clubside, Despotivo 1 De Agosto basketball club of Luanda was born on September 10, 1970.

Brief on this amazon of Africa basketball – Guerreiro

Height: 170cm / 5'7''
Position: Forward
Born: Sep.10, 1970
Team: Inter-Clube (Angola) (2007-07)
Nationality: Angolan
Previous teams:
1 De Agosto (Angola)
Career / Comments:
Full name: Guerreiro Irene Da Conceicao Inacio
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Career:
2006: Desportivo 1. De Agosto Luanda (D1,1T)
2007: Inter-Clube de Luanda (D1,1T)
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Awards/Achievements:
Angolan National Team -05-07
African Championships -05
Angolan League Finalist -07
African Championships in Dakar (SEN) -07