In the aftermath of an inglorious and panacheless victory against Mali (77-66), 40th nation in the world, Les Bleues, bronze medalists at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, were hardly reassured but benefited from a formula which guarantees a ticket for the final phase of the World Cup to the first three formations of the pool.

Whatever the result on Sunday against China, they will finish in the Top 3 of this group B thanks to a favorable point-average and will therefore be present in Australia from September 22 to October 1.

But until then, the site seems immense as the French have been shaken by the reigning African champions.

On paper, the qualification should have been only a formality for the Blue.

But without three of their executives (Sandrine Gruda, Endy Miyem, Sarah Michel) and with Jean-Aimé Toupane at their head, freshly appointed coach in October, they are progressing for the moment in total unknown.

Uninspired against Mali, they were again unable to find the solution in front of the aggressiveness and physical play of the Nigerians.

Even if they seemed more applied in defense than the day before, they fished this time in the offensive sector with far too much waste in shooting (39.06%) despite a fanfare start (13-0), a lead by twenty points at the start of the second quarter and the contribution of their trump card Marine Johannes (18 points).

"Work"

Already struggling against the Malians, the leader Olivia Epoupa, back in blue after missing the Olympics through injury, did not exist once again, handicapped by three faults shortly before the break and her playing time was therefore quite limited.

French Alexia Charterau (g) ​​against Nigeria in the first round match of the Tokyo Olympic tournament, July 30, 2021 in Saitama Thomas COEX AFP / Archives

Toupane, who began his mission in November on a mixed note in qualifying for Euro-2023 with a rout in Ukraine (90-71) followed by a victory against Lithuania (83-56), therefore has bread on the board, he who wishes to open the French team with a view to the Paris-2024 Games.

"There is still work to do but we will learn from our mistakes, he hoped. It's a young team and a group in reconstruction. It takes time to put things in place and on these international windows, "We don't have time to work. We're going to try to finish with a victory against China. It may seem stupid, but having this ambition is already a good thing."

The players seemed to take the hit, and the qualification does not hide the work that awaits them.

"The Nigerians started the game badly but they came back with more intensity after the break, in warrior mode, and we couldn't respond, explained Alexia Chartereau. We made too many mistakes, we are really disappointed."

"We slacked off mentally and we couldn't find the solutions, abounded Iliana Rupert. We played backwards when they attacked us. It's a new group and you have to create automatisms. This is not worrying but it must not happen again. We are not a nation that likes to play + dirty + as they say but we will have to learn.

© 2022 AFP