During the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney, Australia, two players from the Mali national team got into a fight after their team was eliminated from the quarterfinal competition after suffering a loss against Serbia.
The altercation that took place between Salimatou Kourouma and Kamite Elisabeth Dabou was witnessed by Serbian reporters as the two were heading through the postgame media area.
Watch the video below:
WATCH: Mali players fight each other at women’s basketball World Cup
pic.twitter.com/D91ewq10zu
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 27, 2022
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The incident was caught on camera by Serbian television as they conducted an interview with one of their players following the victory in Sydney, Australia.
Serbia’s Sasa Cado looked visibly shocked, swiftly taking a step back, as she set eyes upon the scene in front of her, with Salimatou Kourouma throwing at least three punches at Kamite Elisabeth Dabou.
Her team-mates swiftly interjected to break up the fight, which came a day before Mali finished their Group B campaign with a match against Canada.
The tournament has been hugely frustrating for the Malians, who are one of two sides at the 12-team finals to have yet to win a game, following previous losses against Japan, hosts Australia and France.
Mali are only playing in the tournament after African champions Nigeria, who beat their fellow West Africans in last year’s Women’s Afrobasket, were withdrawn from the tournament by their government owing to issues in Nigerian basketball.
In response to a brawl between two members of the Mali women’s basketball team, FIBA has opened an investigation, according to ESPN.
“FIBA acknowledged today that there was an altercation between Mali players in the mixed zone following the Group B game Serbia-Mali at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022,” FIBA said in a statement.
“Following the incident, FIBA has opened an investigation. Once the investigation is concluded, FIBA will decide on any applicable disciplinary measures.”
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