Basketball: Amath M’Baye goes to CSKA Moscow and cuts himself from the Blues

2023-06-30 14:48:34

Amath M’Baye, 33, French international basketball player and vice-champion of Europe with the Blues, signed up until the summer of 2024 with CSKA on Friday, the Moscow club announced. This decision leads to his ineligibility with the Blues, in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine.

According to new rules enacted last summer by the French Basketball Federation (FFBB), a few months after the start of Moscow’s military offensive in Ukraine, players joining Russian or Belarusian teams can no longer play in the France team. .

His signature therefore compromises his chances of participating in the Olympic Games next year in Paris, in a position where however competition is fierce: Victor Wembanyama, Guershon Yabusele, Nicolas Batum.

Last September, the titular leader of the Blues at Euro 2022, Thomas Heurtel, thus put himself out of play by joining the Zénith Saint-Petersburg, in the north-west of Russia.

“I am delighted to be part of such a legendary organization and to discover a new league. I can’t wait to get to work! “said M’Baye, quoted in a press release from CSKA, a club linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The strong winger, 45 caps with the Blues, was part of the France team at the 2019 World Cup and Euro 2022.

Passed in particular by Olimpia Milan and Virtus Bologna in Italy, then the Turkish club Pinar Karsiyaka, M’Baye played last season at Anadolu Efes in Turkey, one of the strongest clubs in Europe.

He was not retained in the selection of the France team for the next World Cup which will take place from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

In addition to Heurtel and M’Baye, the French internationals Livio Jean-Charles (4 caps) and Louis Labeyrie (34 caps) are currently playing in Russia, respectively at CSKA and Kazan.

All are deprived of participation in the two main men’s club competitions in Europe, the Euroleague (C1) and the Eurocup (C2), because Russian teams were excluded after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.