THE national women basketball team yesterday departed for Madagascar, the venue for the 2009 Fiba Africa Championship for Women. The 21-man contingent which left aboard Kenya Airways included 14 players and seven officials. This year, Rwanda is making a debut at the show piece which counts as Africa’s premier women basketball competition. The first-timers are drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Mali, two-time champions Nigeria, 2001 losing finalists Tunisia, 1983 winners Angola and Guinea while Group A pits record champions Senegal with South Africa, Cameroon, Mauritius, Mozambique and hosts Madagascar. Rwanda qualified for the championship after dethroning Kenya in the Zone 5 championships which were hosted in Kigali back in March. Since the tournament inception back in 1966, Senegal has won nine titles; Nigeria, DR.Congo and Egypt are level with two while Angola, Mali and Madagascar have one apiece. Mali won the 2007 edition after beating Senegal 63-56 in the final. Group ASenegal, Mozambique, Cameroon, South Africa,Mauritius and MadagascarGroup BMali, Nigeria, Angola, Tunisia, Guinea and Rwanda Ends
