Orléans point guard Siriman Kanouté delivered a polished performance for Mali in the second round of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers. The 24-year-old playmaker, listed at 1.78 m, tallied 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and ended the contest as the leading scorer. Mali, however, went down 77-83 to Ivory Coast.
Kanouté's showing extended a productive international summer. In early July he featured in three games for Mali, recording two wins and one defeat. The Bamako native also played in last summer's AfroBasket final, which Mali lost to Angola.
A product of the SLUC Nancy academy, Kanouté spent time in Nationale 1 before two seasons at Aix-Maurienne. He then joined Orléans Loiret Basket, where last season he appeared in 42 games, averaging 12.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists, with a season-high 27 points. Orléans were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Béarnais.
