Orange Mali, number 1 partner of the Malian Basketball Federation, received the African U18 Girls and Boys Basketball Champions on October 14, 2024 at its headquarters in Hamdallaye ACI 2000.
It was in a festive atmosphere that Orange Mali received the FIBA U18 Afro basketball Champions, for girls and boys, following their double coronation in Pretoria last September. Present at this ceremony were the Director General of Orange Mali, Aboubacar Salif Diop, the Vice President of the Malian Basketball Federation, Djibrilla Cissé, the Vice President of the Malian Basketball Federation, Djibrilla Cissé, the Chief of Staff of the Minister of Sports and Citizen Construction, Ms. Kadiatou Aw, club representatives, members of the Federation, Eagles supporters, Champions and their supervisors and many other guests.
“It is a real pleasure for me to speak at this solemn ceremony, on behalf of President Jean Claude Sidibé. We are not surprised by this recognition and reward ceremony for merit in view of the exemplary partnership which links Orange Mali to the Malian Basketball Federation. And the young champions will know how to appreciate its true value. This partnership should be welcomed,” declared the Vice-President of FMB, Djibrilla Cissé in his speech.
Orange Mali as official sponsor, according to its General Manager Aboubacar Salif Diop, is honored and comforted to have made the choice, for 16 years, to support the highest authorities of the country in their policy of development of sport in general, football and basketball in particular. He warmly congratulated the champions, the supervisors and the federation for the results achieved. Orange Mali’s ambition is to actively participate in the development of Malian youth through sport. With the federation, we have worked for the success of Malian basketball and we reiterate, here, our commitment to continue to support sport in Mali, particularly basketball, said Aboubacar Salif Diop.
“In accordance with our commitment, we are making a contribution of 20 million CFA Francs, including 10 million for girls and 10 million for boys as the victory bonus to the Federation. Exceptionally, given the simultaneous double victory of the girls and boys, Orange has decided to grant an additional 2 million per team and to their technical support to encourage them to move forward and surpass themselves during the next World Cup scheduled for 2025. Also, given their exceptional performances, we have decided to give the best player and the best player respectively the sum of 500,000 CFA Francs,” he concluded.
According to Ms. Kadiatou Aw, chief of staff of the Ministry of Sports and Citizen Construction, “our players have honored Mali and we hope to go further than that.” She thanked Orange Mali for what it does for sport in Mali in general and basketball in particular.
The presentation of checks, the performance of artists and a cocktail brought an end to this warm ceremony.
Moussa Diarra
