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 an international forward Sagaba Konate (203-97, college: WVU, currently plays in Italy). He could not help Trieste to beat Venezia (4-0). Konate scored 6 points in 16 minutes on the court. His team lost 77-84 on the road to the leading Venezia. This year Konate averages: 9.5ppg, 7.1rpg, 2FGP: 59.6%(31-52) in eight games he played so far. He played for the Mali senior national team one years ago.

Nianta Diarra

   #2. Second place goes to an international power forward Nianta Diarra (201-93, currently plays in France). Diarra was not able to help Cholet Basket in their game against JSF Nanterre (5-4) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. He scored 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. The league leader Cholet Basket was defeated 86-71 in Nanterre by the lower-ranked JSF Nanterre (#6). They ended the series of seven consecutive victories. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Diarra's overall stats this year are: 8.3ppg, 6.3rpg, 2FGP: 78.6%(33-42), 3FGP: 14.3% and FT: 46.2%. He has a dual citizenship: Mali and French. Diarra is in the roster of the Mali senior national team.

Mamoudou Diarra

   #3. The Mali player who performed third best last week abroad was former U18 international forward Mamoudou Diarra (206-97, currently plays college basketball in the States). He led Tenn Tech to a victory against the Lipscomb University 88-77 in the NCAA on Tuesday night. Diarra scored 21 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 33 minutes. The Tennessee Tech University has 2-2 overall record this season. It's Diarra's first year with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 14.3ppg, 6.0rpg, 2FGP: 65.0%(13-20) in four games. Diarra played for the Mali U18 national team seven years ago.

Fousseyni Traore

   #4. An experienced forward Fousseyni Traore (201-2, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Texas Southern University 81-64 in the NCAA last Wednesday. Traore recorded 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in a mere 18 minutes. The Brigham Young University has 6-0 overall record this season. It's Traore's first year with the team. This year his overall stats are: 9.3ppg, 7.0rpg and 1.8bpg in four games. Traore is also Mali U19 national team player.

Sadio Doucoure

   #5. International small forward Sadio Doucoure (200-92, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for Provence Basket (6-2) in their game against SIG Strasbourg (6-3) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. He did not beat the league record on Thursday evening. Doucoure scored only 2 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 5 assists. Provence Basket was defeated 80-69 in Strasbourg by the lower-ranked SIG Strasbourg (#4). But the season just started, so everything may happen. Doucoure's total stats this year are: 6.0ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.7apg. He is another player who holds two passports: Mali and French. Doucoure plays currently for the Mali national team.

Moulaye Sissoko

   #6. Center Moulaye Sissoko (206-99, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the Dayton in their last game. Despite his good performance the Dayton lost 81-87 in Clarksville to the Austin Peay State University. Sissoko scored 12 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in only a mere 13 minutes. This year Sissoko's total stats are: 3.0ppg and 2.4rpg in five games. He is a former U19 international player as he played for the Mali team four years ago.

N'Faly Dante

   #7. Former U17 international center N'Faly Dante (211-1, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an Oregon's surprising victory against the Chaminade University crushing them 73-49 in the NCAA last Monday. Dante scored 8 points. The University of Oregon has 3-2 overall record this season. Dante has averaged so far 5.3ppg and 2.3rpg. He used to play for the Mali U17 national team five years ago.

Fousseyni Drame

   #8. Forward Fousseyni Drame (201-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to a 2-point St.Peter's' victory against the Long Island University 64-62 in the NCAA on Tuesday night. Drame scored 10 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 33 minutes. The Saint Peter's University has 1-3 overall record this season. Drame has averaged so far 7.0ppg, 6.7rpg and 1.3apg in three games. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team back in 2019.

Ibrahima Sidibe

   #9. Former international point guard Ibrahima Sidibe (180-95, currently plays in France) couldn't help Orchesien BC (6-7) in their game against Besancon (4-9) in the French NM1 (third division). He recorded 9 points and had 3 steals in 23 minutes. But the eighth-placed Orchesien BC (6-7) was edged 78-75 on the opponent's court by the lower-ranked (#12) Besancon in the Group B. It was Orchesien BC's third consecutive loss in a row. Sidibe has averaged so far 6.6ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.5apg and 1.2spg in 13 games. Despite he played previously for the French U20 national team, Sidibe is currently in the Mali national team roster.

Oumar Ballo

   #10. Center Oumar Ballo (213-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help University of Arizona to win against the Wichita State University 82-78 in the NCAA last Friday. He scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. The University of Arizona has 6-0 overall record this season. Ballo has averaged so far 7.0ppg and 6.2rpg. He is U19 international player who is currently on the Mali National Team roster.

   #11. Former U19 international forward Hassan Drame (201-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) is a teammate of previously mentioned Fousseyni Drame and both played together in the last NCAA game. Drame contributed to a 2-point St.Peter's' victory against the Long Island University 64-62. He scored 6 points in 21 minutes. Drame has averaged so far 5.7ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3apg and 1.7spg in three games. He used to play for the Mali U19 national team two years ago.

   #12. Former international guard Ludovic Chelle (186-83, currently plays in France) couldn't help SOPCC in their game against Andrezieux in the French NM1 (third division), despite his very good performance last Friday. He was the top scorer with 19 points. Chelle also added 4 rebounds in 26 minutes. But his team was crushed by 32 points 86-54. He has averaged so far 8.2ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.4apg in nine games. Despite Chelle played previously for the French U20 national team, he is currently in the Mali national team roster.

   #13. Former U18 international forward Ibrahim Doumbia (201-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Northern Arizona University 73-56 in the NCAA last Wednesday. Doumbia recorded only 2 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks. He has averaged so far 1.0ppg and 2.0rpg. Doumbia used to play for the Mali U18 national team five years ago.

   #14. International power forward Abdoul Coulibaly (206-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an St.Bonaventure's shocking victory against the Marquette University 70-54 in the NCAA on Sunday night. He recorded only 2 points in 8 minutes on the court. Coulibaly has averaged so far 4.6ppg, 1.6rpg and 1.2bpg in five games. He plays currently for the Mali national team.

   #15. Former international swingman Mamadou Sy (194-85, college: Cloud County, currently plays in France) contributed to Pontoise's victory against the sixth-ranked Toulouse 81-72 in the French NM1 (third division) in Saturday night's game. Sy recorded only 2 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. He has averaged so far 2.5ppg and 4.6rpg. Sy used to play for the Mali national team three years ago.


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

   #1. Amadou Sow (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) led UCSB to an easy victory against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff crushing them 86-58 in the NCAA in Wednesday night's game. He recorded 20 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. The University of California Santa Barbara has 2-1 overall record this season. Sow is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in UCSB's roster. Sow has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 20.8ppg and 7.8rpg.

   #2. Amadou Sylla (203-F-98, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the Tenn Tech to beat the University of North Carolina - Asheville. Sylla recorded 8 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Tenn Tech was defeated 61-55 at home by the University of North Carolina -. Sylla has averaged so far 6.5ppg and 5.0rpg.

   #3. Souleymane Diakite (206-PF-99, is currently at the American university) contributed to NJIT's victory against the Fairleigh Dickinson University 62-54 in the NCAA on Wednesday night. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. The New Jersey Institute of Technology has 3-3 overall record this season. Diakite has been at the team for four years. Diakite has averaged so far 3.0ppg, 6.8rpg and 1.8bpg.

   #4. Tahirou Diabate (206-F-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Georgetown University 73-56 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game. He scored 8 points in only 11 minutes. The San Diego State University has 4-1 overall record this season. Diabate has averaged so far 3.3ppg and 2.7rpg in three games he played so far.

   #5. Tim Troussel (203-PF-95, college: Newman, currently plays in Austria) led Lions to a victory over the sixth-ranked Flames (3-2) 73-64 in the Austrian 2.Bundesliga (second division) in Sunday night's game. Troussel was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 25 points and getting 18 rebounds. Troussel also added 3 assists and 3 steals; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. in Conference Capital West. Raiffeisen Dornbirn Lions (4-2) are placed fourth in Capital West Conference. But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen. It's Troussel's first year with the team. This season Troussel has very high stats. He averages: 16.3ppg, 12.3rpg, 2.3apg and 2.3spg. Troussel has a dual citizenship: Mali and French.

   #6. Experienced Mady Sissoko (206-C-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help Michigan State University to win against the Eastern Michigan University crushing them 83-59 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Sissoko scored only 2 points, had 4 rebounds and made 2 blocks. He has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 1.3rpg.

   #7. Sekou Kalle (208-F, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to an easy victory against the Wheeling University crushing them 99-38 in the MAC in Thursday night's game. Kalle scored only 4 points, had 4 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 4 minutes on the court. He has averaged so far 4.0ppg and 1.7rpg in three games.

   #8. Cheickna Sissoko (206-F, currently plays in NCAA2) was not able to help the Academy of Art in their game against the California State University Stanislaus in the NCAA2. He cannot count Tuesday's game as one of the best ones. Sissoko scored only 2 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 12 minutes. His team lost 59-68 in the NCAA2. He has averaged so far 2.0ppg and 1.8rpg in five games.

   #9. Lassena Fofana (198-F-5, currently plays in Spain) contributed to a 3-point Torta del Casar's victory against the eighth-ranked Real Betis Energia Plus Sevilla 2nd team 75-72 in the Spanish EBA (fourth division) on Sunday night. Fofana recorded 6 points. He has averaged so far 5.8ppg and 5.0rpg.