Sagaba Konate selected the top Malian playing abroad in last week's games

We bring you last week's top performances from Malians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Sagaba Konate

   #1. This week's number one is former U18 international forward Sagaba Konate (203-97, college: WVU, currently plays in Spain). He could not help Zaragoza to beat La ICL Manresa (6-5). Konate recorded only 4 points in 4 minutes on the court. His team was edged 103-102 at home by the much lower-ranked (#7) La ICL Manresa. It's Konate's first season with the team. This year he averages: 2.2ppg and FT: 71.4% in five games he played so far. Konate played for the Mali U18 national team six years ago.

Badara Bagayoko

   #2. Second place goes to former international forward Badara Bagayoko (201-96, currently plays in Spain). He was not able to help Fuenlabrada 2 in their game against Quintanar (1-0) in the Spanish EBA (fourth division). Bagayoko recorded 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. It was his first game for Fuenlabrada 2 this season. The ninth-placed Fuenlabrada 2 (0-1) lost 76-89 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) Quintanar in the Group B-A. Bagayoko played for the Mali national team in 2017.

Nianta Diarra

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). He was not able to secure a victory for Cholet Basket (0-2) in their game against Hapoel Holon (1-1) in the Basketball Champions League. Diarra did not beat the league record on Tuesday evening. He recorded only 2 points. Cholet Basket (#4) was defeated 73-63 in Holon by the second-ranked Hapoel in the group C of Basketball Champions League. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Diarra's overall stats this season are: 4.0ppg, 5.5rpg. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra played for the Mali national team one years ago.

Ladji Dembele

   #4. An experienced swingman Ladji Dembele (192-3, currently plays in Spain) led La Matanza to a victory over the sixth-ranked Boadilla (0-1) crushing them 88-60 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) in Saturday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Dembele had a double-double by scoring 28 points and getting 14 rebounds. He also added 3 assists and 3 steals in 33 minutes. It was his first game for La Matanza this season. His team is placed second in Group B-B. Dembele used to play for the Mali U17 national team back in 2018.


The list of other players, who all have Mali passport but never been selected to any of Mali national teams:

   #1. Experienced Kone Sidiki (208-F/C-1, currently plays in Serbia). He could not help one of league's weakest teams Sloga (2-5) to beat KK Sloboda Uzice (2-5). Sidiki recorded 6 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks. Sloga was defeated 73-67 at home by the higher-ranked KK Sloboda Uzice (#12). But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Sidiki's overall stats this year are: 4.7ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.7bpg. He has a dual citizenship: French and Mali.

   #2. Mambi Diawara (198-G-94, college: Calgary, currently plays in Finland) managed to help Helsinki Seagulls in a victory against the tenth-ranked Kobrat (2-5) 93-84 in the Finnish Korisliiga on Friday night. Diawara recorded only 2 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 20 minutes. Helsinki Seagulls (7-0) is placed first in the Korisliiga. So far his team won all seven games in the Regular Season. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Diawara's overall stats are: 5.7ppg, 3.0rpg and 1.1apg in seven games he played so far. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and Canadian.

   #3. Bakary Konate (211-C-93, college: Minnesota, currently plays in Portugal) was not able to help Academica in their game against Sporting (5-0) in the Portuguese LPB. Konate was the second best scorer with 9 points. He also added 9 rebounds. But Academica was crushed 91-58 on their home court in Coimbra by the much higher-ranked Sporting (#3). But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. Konate's overall stats this season are: 5.0ppg and 5.2rpg.


Other top Mali players, who play abroad:

Bandja Sy (204-C-90) plays for Andorra in Spanish Liga Endesa
Cheick Diallo (206-C/F-96) plays for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
Samba Balayera (195-G/F-96) plays for Saint-Quentin in French ProB
Abdramane Camara (206-PF-0) plays for Chorale de Roanne in French Jeep ELITE ProA
Siriman Kanoute (181-PG-1) plays for Sluc Nancy in French ProB
Mohamed Sidibe (196-F-2) plays for Sluc Nancy in French ProB
Tim Troussel (203-PF-95) plays for The Hague in Dutch DBL
Sanounou Dabo (204-F-0) plays for Ravenna in Italian Serie A2
Negueba Samake (212-C-90) plays for Sorgues BC in French NM2
Mamadou Sy (196-F/G-85) plays for Pontoise in French NM2

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Mali playing currently abroad. Go to Mali Abroad Page to see completed list.