RWANDA women basketball team has kicked off preparations for this year’s Fiba Women Afrobasket to be held in Mali from September 23-October 2.

After a poor performance in the All Africa games where Rwanda finished seventh, head coach Nenad Amanovic said yesterday, "we have increased our preparation after ending Maputo campaign on a disappointing position. The focus is on Mali now and we are set for the Africa championship.”

The national team is training twice every day at Petit Stade, Remera following their return from Maputo. In Maputo, Rwanda finished seventh after 72-59 victory over Algeria in the final classification match.

Mahoro Laetitia was the team’s top scorer with 19 points, Jackie Musabe with 17 points, Monic Williams with 12 points and Anderson Tierra with 11 points.

Meanwhile, Mali has been presented with a perfect opportunity to reclaim the Fiba Women Afrobasket crown after they were named hosts of the 2011 edition.

In 2007 Mali won its first ever Afrobasket Women competition by beating the host nation Senegal in the final (63-56).

By winning Afrobasket 2007 Mali had qualified directly for the 2008 Olympic Games.

In 2009 Mali lost their African crown in the final against Senegal (57-72) but still qualified for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.

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