Angola face Egypt, Mali take on Mozambique in Semi-Finals

KIGALI (Rwanda) - Angola, who got a bye into the Semi-Finals, will take on Egypt on Friday while the reigning champions Mali face Mozambique with both fixtures a repeat of the FIBA U16 Women's African Championship two years ago.

Egypt will be seeking revenge for that 59-42 loss in Beira, Mozambique at the 2017 edition but most importantly at stake are two slots to the finalists to represent Africa at the prestigious FIBA U17 Women's World Cup 2020. 

The tie will present an opportunity to face off for two of the most exciting point guards at the tournament placing Angola's Sara Caetano up against Hala Yassine - a battle many at the Amahoro Indoor Stadium cannot wait to witness.

Caetano has scored an incredible 90 points in three games with an average of 30 points, 15 rebounds and 2.7 assists top scoring in all games Angola has played, a game less than others.

 

Yassine on the other hand has averaged 11.3 points, 1.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds making her a very reliable option for the Egyptian outfit who will need her to also stop Caetano. 

The battle line has been drown between the two players but the paint will also have a big say in who eventually wins this game even though there is no doubt whatsoever that the game will be won by the team that takes care of the small details. 

In the other Semi-Final, defending champions Mali are out for blood. They want a place in the final and they will do everything within their means to achieve this goal. 

Quizan Traore brings down the ball

Oumarou Sidiya's side knows what to do to achieve this feat but they face a Mozambican side that does not give up as seen on Thursday in their Quarter-Final tie against Uganda. 

However, Uganda is no Mali. This is a very well-drilled team that makes no apologies for their brilliance and will be fearless against Mozambique. 

Kisshana Mafassitela will be key to Mozambique's offence

Mozambique head coach Carlos Dezanove will have to fine tune a few things before this tie and ensure that his players come into this one treating it like a final, like their lives depend on it. It will take way more than Vanessa Chivale and Paula Mabjaia to win this one. 

Mali on the other hand will be looking to their impressive shooting guard Mariam Coulibaly who is averaging 23 points per game and Sira Thienou who is posting 15.7 points per game. 

Africa will be represented at the FIBA U17 Women's World Cup 2020 by the two teams that make it to the Final to be played on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, hosts Rwanda who are still winless at the tournament will be hoping to make amends when the face off in the classification game to determine the 5th-7th positions. The winner faces Uganda in the battle for fifth place. 

FIBA