PARIS (EuroBasket 2015) - Up-and-coming center Mouhammadou Jaiteh has been called back by France head coach Vincent Collet and will take the place of Alexis Ajinca on the defending champions' team at EuroBasket 2015.

The 21-year-old Jaiteh and point guard Thomas Heurtel were the last two players to be left out of the 12-man EuroBasket roster which France announced on 17 August and had since joined his club, JSF Nanterre, in their preparations for the new season.

On Thursday evening however, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) confirmed that Ajinca was pulling out of the EuroBasket at the request of his team, the New Orleans Pelicans.

"Since arriving at INSEP [France's National Institute of Sport] on 20 July for the beginning of training camp with France, Alexis Ajinca suffered from pain in his Achilles tendon," the FFBB said in a statement.

"The pain did not worsen during the preparation with Les Bleus.

"The absence of serious injury has been verified by an ultrasound exam at the beginning of preparations and an MRI scan on Wednesday.

"Despite this, the franchise of Alexis [New Orleans Pelicans] has forced the player to not participate at the EuroBasket.

"Alexis Ajinça decided to leave Strasbourg early this afternoon [Thursday] and will travel to the United States at the weekend."

Ajinca stepped out in his first major tournament with France at EuroBasket 2013 and averaged 9.1 points and 7.0 rebounds to help Les Bleus claim their first-ever European crown.

He missed out on the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup due to injury and was hoping to return this summer to help France defend their title.

"It is with sadness that I announce I pull out of the EuroBasket," the 27-year-old center posted on Twitter on Thursday night.

"I thought I could take care of myself and play with France.

"But my franchise has decided to not take any risks and asked me to return to the USA as soon as possible.

"I would like to thank everybody for their messages of support.

"I part from my team-mates with difficulty and frustration. We will meet each other again soon."

Jaiteh is coming off a breakout season as he earned the starting center's spot at Nanterre and helped them conquer the EuroChallenge title as well as second place in the French Pro A regular season.

The 2.08m center who stands out for his ability to protect the rim and rebounding prowess starred for France at youth level every single summer the last five years, from the U16 European Championship of 2010 through to the U20 European Championship in 2014.

Jaiteh's background with youth French sides is very similar to a long line of big men who got the chance to shine on the big stage following a late call-up to senior national team.

Ajinca himself was considered a surprise choice by Collet prior to EuroBasket 2013 as he had not suited up for France since the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship but his performances in Slovenia made French fans forget about the absence of Joakim Noah.

When Ajinca and Johan Petro dropped out of the French team for the World Cup, Rudy Gobert and Joffrey Lauvergne - both members of the third-place French team at the 2011 U20 European Championship - stepped up and became the talk of the tournament with their fantastic displays.

Gobert went on to enjoy a fantastic season at Utah Jazz and enter the conversation for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, while Lauvergne had a superb first half of the season with Russian club Khimki Moscow Region and then also made the jump to the NBA, joining the Denver Nuggets.

Jaiteh will now join Gobert and Lauvergne in a French frontcourt which also includes captain Boris Diaw and long-serving veteran Florent Pietrus.

France, who host EuroBasket Group A in Montpellier and the Final Phase in Lille, play their opener against Finland on 5 September.

France final roster for EuroBasket 2015: Nicolas Batum, Nando De Colo, Boris Diaw, Antoine Diot, Evan Fournier, Mickael Gelabale, Rudy Gobert, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Charles Kahudi, Joffrey Lauvergne, Tony Parker, Florent Pietrus.