Senegal don choose Mame Maty Mbengue, former captain of di Lionnes and first African woman wey enta FIBA Hall of Fame, to officially light di cauldron for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Di announcement come as di country dey prepare to host di event, with Senegalese press agency APS call attention to her contribution to di history of women basketball for di kontri.
Her journey now be di subject of one 114-page book, Confidences d'une légende du basketball, wey dem write with sports journalist Mamadou Koumé and L'Harmattan-Sénégal publish am. Former Senegalese president Abdou Diouf write di preface, present her as one of di emblematic figures of di women national team, wey she wear dia jersey and captain armband plenti years.
Mbengue start to play basketball for 1983 when she be 14 years old. Larry Diouf introduce her to di sport, den André Akibodé coach her and she join di senior national team when she be 16. Her honours include 1985 African juniors title, six senior African championships for 1984, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1999 and 2000, two gold medals for African Games for 1995 and 1999, one title for 1997 Jeux de la Francophonie, three World Championship appearances and place for di Senegalese squad for 2000 Sydney Olympics.
One of her most memorable moments na 1990 Afrobasket for Tunis, where she reach in time for di semi-final afta she face tough journey from United States and score di decisive basket for di last seconds to give Senegal 70-68 victory on di way to di title. Mbengue, wey dey see Jeanne d'Arc as her second family, still hold MBA from Ohio University. Dem induct her enter FIBA Hall of Fame for September 2022.
