Can 2023 be another memorable year for Egyptian side Alexandria Sporting Club?

 

ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - After wining two titles last year, Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) have their eyes firmly set on what could be another super year at home as Egypt host the newly introduced FIBA Africa Women's Basketball League (AWBL) from December 11-19.

What they did in 2022 by winning the two tournaments in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in October and in Maputo, Mozambique over two months apart, will remain etched in the memory of the club favourites forever.

The historic achievements saw the Alexandria-based club win the FIBA Africa Zone Five show by beating Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 78-67 in the Dar es Salaam Finals to claim the regional title.

Sporting Alexandria silenced Costa do Sol in their back yard to win their first-ever African title last year in the Mozambican capital

But the best was yet to come as weeks apart, they defied all the odds to become the first Egyptian side to be crowned FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women, shutting out home team Costa Do Sol 65-58 in hard-fought  Final in Maputo.

On their way to glory, they met and upset five time champions Interclube of Angola, boasting one of all time greats Italee Lucas, 100-82 in a high-scoring Semi-Finals. If they maintain that kind of form, they will be home and dry.

Mohamed Abdelrahman-coached side have their eyes firmly set on lifting the inaugural AWBL and with compatriots Al Ahly opting out  of show, they will carry the hopes of millions of Egyptians across the country. And to achieve that, they will have to be at their best.

Among the teams that have booked their tickets to the 2023 festival include Kenya Ports Authority (Kenya), Rwanda Energy Group (Rwanda) who clinched the two spots in the FIBA Africa Zone Five Qualifiers.

Up Station and Universite Douala (Cameroon) have also secured their flights to the Egyptian capital. From Angola comes the threats posed by giants Primeiro de Agosto and Interclube.

Coach Mohamed said in a recent interview that he started his training for the tournament in August and they are ready to put a smile on the faces of the home fans who will be following their progress in the eight day event.

The tactician is convinced they have what it takes to successfully defend their crown. Anything short of Gold will be deemed a failure.

MVP Hagar Amer is seen here celebrating with teammate Reem Mousa

So why does coach Mohamed sound confidence?,  "I think we are better than we were last year so we can defend our title and win the next one, God willing." He told FIBA.basketball

"I hope I can do it. I am fighting for that hard target." he said.

In his stable are all the players who did duty for the team in the last championship. And in an effort to improve their chances of a repeat, he has beefed up the squad by injecting four more front court players to the team.

The new recruits are post player Hala el Sharawy and Nour Talat as well as forwards Aya el Feqy and Senegalese Yacine Diop.

ASC captain Hagar Amer, named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the two tournaments in Dar es Salaam and Maputo, is still hungry for success as ever and will once again lead the team from the front.

Like in the previous campaigns, Mohamed will rely on four of his players who also turn out for the Egyptian national side. Apart from Ager, there is also Asraf Maged, Reem Mousa and Nourhan Ahmed.

Norhan Ahmed

Is there anything that will stop the confident ASC, playing at their back yard a chance to bag their second successive continental title?

Should they do it, they will join only three teams from Mozambique and Angola who have achieved that feat- Desportivo de Maputo (2007 and 2008), Ferroviaro da Maputo (2018 and 2019) and Interclube (2010-2011 and 2013 and 2014) as the only clubs to claim back to back titles.

One thing is for sure, ASC are not ready to be called the ex-champions just yet especially with this tournament being held at home.

FIBA