FIBA (International Basketball Federation) announced on Tuesday that it had opened an investigation after a fight the day before between two players from Mali at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, described as “crazy” by the leader of the selection, who presented his excuses. Monday, just after Mali’s fourth defeat in four games synonymous with group elimination, against Serbia (81-68), two players including Salimatou Kourouma came to blows in the mixed zone of the Olympic Park Sports Center , where media and players meet, before being separated by teammates.
“FIBA recognizes that there was an altercation between Malian players in the mixed zone. Following this incident, she opened an investigation. FIBA will decide whether to take any disciplinary action once it is over,” Fiba, whose president, Hamane Niang, is Malian, said in a statement.
Monday, the leader of Mali Touty Gandega had indicated on her Twitter account that the selection wanted to “apologize to the Malian people and African people”.
“Well… I want to make it clear that this is not the image we really wanted to convey. God knows we get along well and there is unfortunately a skid that we would have liked to avoid! We would like to apologize to the Malian people and the African people,” Gandega tweeted.
“I know it’s CRAZY what happened but the little ones deeply regret their behavior! she added.