DAKAR (AfroBasket 2015) - Senegal are on the brink of a historic AfroBasket qualifier elimination, with coach Cheikh Sarr and his mostly locally-based team facing a tall order to qualify for this summer's African championship in Tunisia (19-30 August).

The Senegalese need to overcome a 22-point deficit against Mali on Saturday in their capital city of Dakar to revert last week's first-leg 65-43 defeat in FIBA Africa Zone 2 Group B qualifier played at the Sports Palace in Bamako, Mali.

The victory gave Mali hope that they will play in their sixth consecutive AfroBasket, and the local media took note.

Senegal find themselves in a difficult position after failing to capitalise on Mali's poor shooting display - 1 of 16 - from three-point range. Instead Sarr's side was outplayed in the paint.

They could not contain Mali captain Mohamed Tangara, who made six of his eight attempts under the basket to finish with game-highs 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Sarr acknowledged Mali were deserving winners of Game 1, but remains upbeat that his team will fight back.

Talking to the local media, the man who guided Senegal to their best result in the history of FIBA Basketball World Cup last summer in Spain made it clear of their intentions.

"We'll play basketball and try to beat Mali at home," Sarr said.

I strongly believe in the qualification. - Sarr

"We will need to make some defensive adjustments.

"We had two players capable of defending Tangara, a very experienced player. Unfortunately, Moses Diame and Abdoulaye Coulibaly fouled out.

"The score does not reflect the status of the Senegalese basketball, regionally and globally," he pointed out.

Mohamet Diop, one of three players involved in the qualifier that also featured  for Senegal's team that reached the Round of 16 at last summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup, was the only player to score in double figures (11 points) in the defeat in Bamako.

Prior to the first-leg against Mali, Minnesota Timberwolves Gorgui Dieng, who is not taking part in the the qualifier, told FIBA.com he was hopeful to see his country qualify for the African the championship.

Senegal's leading scorer at Spain 2014 went on to say: "We have no excuses not to win the African title. This is one of my goals."

Senegal are racing against the clock and Dieng will need to wait and see how his countrymen react to the pressure of becoming the ninth African national team to qualify for Tunisia 2015 on Saturday.

Mali forward Boubacar Sidibe, who had a modest campaign at AfroBasket 2013, seconded Tangara well in the Game 1 win, with 13 points and nine rebounds. Waly Coulibaly, representing his country for the first time since 2011, took charge of the backcourt with 10 points and three assists.

Tangara, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in the last edition of the African championship in Cote d'Ivoire, took to his Facebook page to express his joy.

"I am proud of this historical win in my hometown. All credit goes to my teammate and coach Sylvain Lautie.

"This man [Sylvain Lautie] is a genius. He took charge of the team just 10 days ago and gave us [this] historical victory for Mali basketball.

"We still have one more game to complete our qualification for AfroBasket."

Senegal is the only country to have featured in 26 of the 27 African Championships played to date.

They missed out on the inaugural event in 1962, but have won the title on five occasions.

They now face an unprecedented challenge.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, the Seychelles, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique will be battling this weekend for the two places on offer in FIBA Africa Zone 6 qualifier for AfroBasket 2015.

FIBA