Arizona center Oumar Ballo isΒ on the roster for a Mali senior team that did not show up for its FIBA 2023 World Cup qualifying game Friday against Uganda in Rwanda.
Mali players reportedly stayed in their hotel because their basketball federation did not meet financial obligations.
"Mali players are reportedly protesting against the FΓ©dΓ©ration Malienne de Basketballβs failure to pay their allowances," East Africa website Kawowo Sports wrote. "It is said that some players refused to take the team bus at the hotel while those that came to the Arena refused to kit up."
The forfeit meant Uganda was given a 20-0 win. All four teams in Africa's Group A are now 2-2, with Mali next scheduled to face Nigeria on Saturday at 3 a.m. Arizona time.Β
The Nigerian government last month reversed a two-year ban for its basketball teams in international competition, and Nigeria then scrambled to put a team together for this weekend's latest round of qualifying games.
Breaking news from Kigali with Uganda awarded a 20-0 forfeit against Mali due to a no-show.Hereβs how Group A now looks in the Africa Qualifiers π#FIBAWC #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/niUD6qVl0s
— FIBA Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWC) July 1, 2022