Five FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2018 players who could top women's rankings

8 Nov 2018

LOME (FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2018) - On the eve of the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup 2018, we look at 5 participants who are so skilled they could one day be number one in the FIBA 3x3 individual women's world ranking.

Nkechi Akashili (Nigeria)

Height: 5ft 10in (1,79m)
Age: 28

The dynamic 28-year-old is not used to losing. This said, the 2017 FIBA Women's Afrobasket winner and FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018 quarter-finalist had a stinging defeat last year in the final of the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup. Forget about the Team of the Tournament accolades, her teammate Nkem Akaraiwe told FIBA.basketball "we will make sure to reach our set goal". Other teams beware, with her deadly lefty shot, Nkechi Akashili can get hotter than chili. 

Menatalla Awad (Egypt)

Height: 5ft 10in (1,79m)
Age: 27

While their men's team has regularly featured at the FIBA 3x3 World Cup, Egypt's women's team has not shined so far on the 3x3 scene. Their 5th place last year at the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup did not help. But the basketball national team's co-captain Menatalla Awad is back in Lomé to shake things up. The 27-year-old was 7th in scoring last year and with a team of young rising stars (all under the age of 20), she might have bigger responsibility than Peter Parker.

Mamiky Cissé (Côte d'Ivoire)

Height: 5ft 10in (1,79m)
Age: 26

A key member of the basketball national team, Cissé has made a smooth transition to 3x3. She finished second overall in scoring last year for the 1st edition of the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup and brought Côte d'Ivoire all the way to the semi-finals. The 26-year-old is the total package: great basketball IQ, good defender and more range than Ariana Grande.

Kadidia Maïga (Mali)

Height: 6ft  (1,85m)
Age: 21

For sure there will be expectations every time Kadidia Maïga steps into the court. It's not just that she won gold and finished 6th overall in scoring at 20 years old last year at the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup. She's also the cousin of Mali's icon and women's basketball legend Hamchetou Maïga-Ba. Without last year's MVP Nassira Traoré, Mali will need to rely a lot more on their very own KD.

Jamila Nansikombi (Uganda)

Height: 5ft 11in (1,81m)
Age: 21

At 21, the Uganda star is already a 3x3 vet. In 2018, the handles-ready Nansikombi played at the U23 Nations League, the U23 World Cup and the World Cup. She's the number one 3x3 player in Africa and stands at 40th overall in the world. Last year, she topped all scorers at the FIBA 3x3 Africa Cup and led Uganda to bronze. With moves like that, the metal could look a lot different this year.

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