Mali players apologize for fighting; FIBA investigating

Posted September 27, 2022 7:00 am

By DOUG FEINBERG

Serbia's Mina Dordevic, left, and Mali's Salimatou Kourouma compete for a loose ball during their game at the women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) The Associated Press

SYDNEY (AP) - Two Mali players have apologized for fighting in the mixed zone following their loss to Serbia on Monday at the women's World Cup.

The scuffle between Salimatou Kourouma and Kamite Elisabeth Dabou happened while they were walking through the postgame media area and was caught on film by Serbian media.

'œWe were frustrated because of the loss so we are here to apologize to the world of basketball, FIBA, the World Cup,'ť Kourouma said on the pair's behalf after a loss to Canada on Tuesday. 'œWe're here to apologize for the image that was put on social media. It was not our intention.'ť

FIBA is investigating the incident.

Kourouma threw a few punches at Dabou before their Mali teammates jumped in to break them apart. The two played in the Canada game and coach Joaquin Brizuela said he didn't consider benching them as punishment.

'œThese were two of our key players so even though it was a sad incident, it was more about that they wanted to play basketball,'ť Brizuela said. 'œWe wanted to play at a higher level, and they did show that today.'ť

Mali qualified for the World Cup as a late replacement for Nigeria, which had administrative issues. The African country has gone 0-5 in the World Cup, losing by an average of 30 points.

Mali has won just one game in its World Cup history, in 2010.

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More AP women's basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Mali's Salimatou Kourouma, right, is tries to lay up past Serbia's Tina Krajisnik during their game at the women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) The Associated Press

Serbia's Yvonne Anderson, right, goes around Mali's Kamite Elizabeth Dabou during their game at the women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft) The Associated Press

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