FIBA World Cup marred by ugly brawl between two Mali teammates after loss
The FIBA Women's World Cup has been rocked by an ugly brawl between two Mali players following the team's loss to Serbia.
Mali was mathematically eliminated from the World Cup after going down 81-68 to Serbia on Monday, and chaos erupted in the moments that followed the game.
Serbia's Sasa Cado was being interviewed by a journalist in the mixed zone, with a group of Mali players standing to her right when Salimatou Kourouma unexpectedly unleashed on her own teammate Elisabeth Dabou.
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The brawl left Cado visibly startled as she paused her interview with the Serbian network as Kourouma and Dabou's teammates attempted to break them up.
Teammates were forced to intervene in an attempt to break up the scrap between the two players Twitter
Basketball's governing body, FIBA, has confirmed that it will launch an investigation into the ugly brawl.
"FIBA acknowledged today that there was an altercation between Mali players in the mixed zone following the Group B game Serbia-Mali at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022," a FIBA statement read.
"Following the incident, FIBA has opened an investigation. Once the investigation is concluded, FIBA will decide on any applicable disciplinary measures."
Salimatou Kourouma in action during Mali's Group B World Cup clash against Japan Getty
The incident compounded what has been a World Cup to forget for Mali, which will conclude its tournament with a Group B clash against Canada on Tuesday.
Mali is one of two teams that is yet to win a single game at the World Cup, having also lost to Japan, Australia and France. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the other nation to go winless.
Australia remains a faint chance of grabbing top spot in Group B after a thrilling 75-72 win over the Canadians on Monday.
The host nation must beat Japan in its final group game, while hoping Canada and France are upset.
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