Aya Traore (SEN) - Egypt v Senegal, 2015 Afrobasket Women, Yaoundé (Cameroon), Group Phase, 29 September 2015
YAOUNDE (AfroBasket Women 2015) - There is something about Aya Traore's celebrated basketball career.
As well as winning an AfroBasket Women title (2009), the 32-year-old small forward has represented her country internationally so many times that no one would guess she is yet to play at the Olympics.
YAOUNDE (AfroBasket Women 2015) - There is something about Aya Traore's celebrated basketball career.
As well as winning an AfroBasket Women title (2009), the 32-year-old small forward has represented her country internationally so many times that no one would guess she is yet to play at the Olympics.
Senegal last played at the Olympics back in 2000, but since then, they have repeatedly missed out on direct qualification.
Traore as well as four other players on Senegal's current squad featured at the 2008 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but defeats to Latvia and Japan denied the Western Africans a place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Next up, will be the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. And Traore feels the dream is just about to happen.
But first Senegal need to overcome reigning champions Angola in Friday's AfroBasket Women 2015 Semi-Finals.
Although Traore energised Senegal with 13 points and 10 rebounds against the reigning champions in the Group Phase, they fell short.
It's about time to move on, Traore told FIBA.com: "The most important thing right now is what is ahead."
Angola currently hold a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Senegal dating back to AfroBasket Women 2011.
Traore says it "feels great to be back in the Semi-Finals" for the fifth straight time and believes Senegal's turn is just around the corner.
"Those games are in the past. All we've got to do is to learn from those games and focus on the next few games," she warned.
"It feels good to be back in the Semi-Finals, especially as the competition level is high, and obviously everybody wants to win."
Senegal head into Friday's Semi-Finals with a 4-2 mark. They are the only team of the last four standing with two losses, but that fact does not prevent Traore from dreaming big.
It’s going to be another battle against a great Angola team. - Traore
"We have to keep our rhythm in order to reach the Final.
"But for us, we are going to continue to play great at both ends of the floor.
"I have never played in the Olympics, but I hope this time is going to be the one."
The winning team at AfroBasket Women 2015 will qualify for the 2016 Rio Games while the teams that come in second and third will book places in next year's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).
Traore as well as four other players on Senegal's current squad featured at the 2008 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, but defeats to Latvia and Japan denied the Western Africans a place at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Next up, will be the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. And Traore feels the dream is just about to happen.
But first Senegal need to overcome reigning champions Angola in Friday's AfroBasket Women 2015 Semi-Finals.
Although Traore energised Senegal with 13 points and 10 rebounds against the reigning champions in the Group Phase, they fell short.
It's about time to move on, Traore told FIBA.com: "The most important thing right now is what is ahead."
Angola currently hold a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Senegal dating back to AfroBasket Women 2011.
Traore says it "feels great to be back in the Semi-Finals" for the fifth straight time and believes Senegal's turn is just around the corner.
"Those games are in the past. All we've got to do is to learn from those games and focus on the next few games," she warned.
"It feels good to be back in the Semi-Finals, especially as the competition level is high, and obviously everybody wants to win."
Senegal head into Friday's Semi-Finals with a 4-2 mark. They are the only team of the last four standing with two losses, but that fact does not prevent Traore from dreaming big.
It’s going to be another battle against a great Angola team. - Traore
"We have to keep our rhythm in order to reach the Final.
"But for us, we are going to continue to play great at both ends of the floor.
"I have never played in the Olympics, but I hope this time is going to be the one."
The winning team at AfroBasket Women 2015 will qualify for the 2016 Rio Games while the teams that come in second and third will book places in next year's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).
By: FIBA.com
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