Mali’s losing streak broke out in a nasty way at the World Cup.
Mali and Serbia met at the basketball World Cup in Australia. EPA / AOP
In the Women’s Basketball World Cup, the Malian team’s disagreement broke out at the interview point in the middle of the tournament.
Mali has not won a game in the entire tournament. The last win was already a year ago. The 68–81 loss to Serbia heated up the feelings within the team.
Serbian media caught on camera video about two Malians fighting after the game at the interview point. Serbia witnessed the incident Sasa Codo looked clearly shocked as the brawl escalated next to him.
Mali’s teammates wrestled and traded a few blows until other members of the team intervened.
The team made it to the World Cup when Nigeria, who earned the original spot, withdrew from the tournament because the country’s basketball has been in an “unending crisis”.
Malian basketball faced an exploitation scandal last year. The abuse targeted women’s basketball and especially teenage girls. President of the International Basketball Federation FIBA Hamane Niangia was accused of neglecting to investigate the abuse that took place between 1999 and 2007. Niang was found not guilty in the case.