The scuffle erupted in a media zone on the match in Sydney on Monday and was caught on digicam whereas Serbia’s Sasa Cado was being interviewed. Serbia had defeated Mali 81-68.
A brief video clip which has since been extensively watched on-line confirmed Mali’s Salimatou Kourouma throwing at the least three punches at teammate Kamite Elisabeth Dabou as a shocked Cado retreated.
Different Mali gamers shouting “cease” rushed over to intervene and break up the combat.
The 2 gamers fronted a press convention after their remaining match sport, an 88-65 loss to Canada wherein each featured, and apologised.
WATCH: Mali gamers combat one another at girls’s basketball World Cup https://t.co/D91ewq10zu
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“We’re right here to apologise for the picture that was on social media, it was not our intention,” Dabou mentioned as they sat side-by-side.
“We had been pissed off due to the loss and we’re right here to apologise to the entire of the FIBA basketball World Cup. We’re sorry.”
They took no questions.
FIBA mentioned was investigating and as soon as concluded “will resolve on any relevant disciplinary measures”.
Coach Joaquin Brizuela known as the fracas a “unhappy incident”.
“They’re two of our key gamers and despite the fact that it was a tragic incident, it was extra about they wished to play basketball at a better stage, they usually did present that at present,” he mentioned by an interpreter.
“We’ve got realized lots from enjoying this match.”
Mali did not win any of their 5 video games after qualifying for his or her second World Cup as a late substitute for Nigeria, who pulled out citing administrative difficulties across the sport of their nation.
