Uncertainty surrounds the participation of Lions captain Brancou Badio in the second window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Scheduled from February 26 to March 1 at the Marius Ndiaye Stadium in Dakar, this phase could take place without Brancou Badio, a key player in the Senegalese team.

According to reports in Le Quotidien, the point guard, currently playing for Valencia Basket in the Euroleague, may not be released by his club. This is a worrying scenario for the national team, coached by Desagana Diop, which is preparing to begin this international break in front of its home crowd with the ambition of consolidating its dominance in Group B.

Valencia Basket is scheduled to face Baskonia on February 26th in the Euroleague, the same day as Senegal's opening match against Ivory Coast. However, unlike competitions organized under the auspices of FIBA, the Euroleague does not require clubs to release their international players during international windows.

Badio's potential absence would be a major blow, given how crucial his influence has been in recent seasons. At the last Afrobasket tournament in Angola, where Senegal won the bronze medal, the Lions' captain distinguished himself by finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 139 points and the best three-point shooter with 25. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team. His leadership and ability to turn a game around in key moments make him a major strategic asset.

Senegal is in group B along with Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.

The Lions' regrouping is scheduled to begin on February 23rd.