(Hamane Niang speaking at a press conference. Photo: Getty Images)

Hamane Niang wants Nigeria and Senegal to be emulated by African nations after their performances at the just concluded 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain.

 Niang, the FIBA Africa President has hailed both teams for their achievements after they made history by becoming the first-two African countries to qualify from the group phase of the competition for the first time.

Nigeria and Senegal bounced back from their opening day defeats to Australia and eventual winners USA in getting their campaigns on the tracks much to the delight of basketball fans and the entire continent.

(D'Tigress of Nigeria celebrating after qualifying for quarterfinals. Photo: BBall Naija)

Niang, a native of Mali, witnessed how Nigeria's D'Tigress went on a three-game winning streak beating Turkey, Argentina and Greece to become the first African side to reach the quarterfinals of the women's world cup, has stressed the need for teams to build on the feat.

"We have to tip our hats off to Nigeria and Senegal for their performances against European teams," Niang said to FIBA

"It was one of the objectives set out in Africa for our national teams to compete against the Europeans because, other than the USA and Australia, it is these sides from Europe that have been the big threats at past Women's World Cups.

"For a very long time, African teams came to this competition to limit the damage as used to be said. What has been positive in this competition is that the African teams have played without any anxiety and on an equal footing with their opponents."

(Senegal's Lionesses in a joyous mood. Photo: FIBA)

The 62-year-old Malian who is also FIBA Vice-President, has urged African teams to continue to prove to be equals of their European and American counterparts on the world stage.

"It's historic for women's basketball and the arrival of Africa in what is otherwise a closed circle and selected group has to be saluted. It is worth recognizing the steps forward that Africa has taken. It means that basketball, from a young age, is starting to bear fruit.

"To have one African team in the eight best women's sides and two of them among the top 12 teams in the world is a performance we have to highlight so that future African teams coming to the competition will not do so just for the sake of taking part, but rather to rightfully represent the very best of the African game and continent.

"For Nigeria and Senegal to prove themselves to be evenly matched with these teams is a source of great happiness for us. We're convinced that what has happened in Tenerife is historic," he said

Nigeria and Senegal finished 8th and 12th places respectively, out of 16, as the two sides looks forward to next year's AfroBasketball Women's Championship, where the winner qualifies to represent Africa at 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

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