PRETORIA (South Africa) - Group Phase action paves way for the winner-takes-all knockout stages from Wednesday, September 11.
The 3 groups have exposed some amazing talents while amplify others already on the basketball scene, having been involved for their sides in the U16 Women's AfroBasket.
We take a look at ten of the best performers from the Group Phase, here:
Oummou Koumare (Mali)
The 1,76m (5ft 9in) forward has been instrumental for holders Mali, averaging 21.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assist while staying on the court for 27.3 minutes.
She has a 47.8% shooting, on field goals, and did not put a foot wrong on the free-throw line, converting all 8 attempts across the 3 matches played so far. She has also accumulated 14 steals and 3 blocks for a 25.3 efficiency on average.
Damaris Emedie (Cameroon)
Debutants Cameroon have a jewel in 17-year-old Damaris Emedie who has been quite the revelation in the group stage, bagging a double-double in all three matches.
She went 18-11 on points and rebounds for her first double-double against Tunisia before a 19-21 dominance in their win over hosts South Africa and 21-17 in the final game against Rwanda.
She has also made five assists across the 3 matches played, one in each of the opening two matches and four against Rwanda. Emedie has averaged 3 steals per game.
Brigitte Nibishaka (Rwanda)
As Rwanda make a return since 2018, Brigitte Nibishaka's performance has been head and shoulders above her peers leading the offensive charts with a 22 points per game show, her 66 across the 3 matches the highest by a single player so far.
She carries an average of 13 boards to the Quarter Finals, coming short of a double-double in all 3 games by 2 rebounds in the side's clash against debutants Cameroon.
Against the hosts she played for a 25 points, 16 rebounds double-double, repeating the feat against Tunisia with a 24-15 ratio. She scored 17 against the Central Africans in the last group match.
Eiza Louveton (Morocco)
The Montbrison Feminines BC swing was instrumental in Morocco's qualification, scoring the winning basket in the final against hosts Tunisia.
She has continued her stellar show in the tournament proper, leading the charts for her side with a 24.7 efficiency per game in the 3 matches played. She averaged 19.7 points per game, 10 rebounds and 2 assists.
She opened Morocco's campaign with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, going again in the clash with Angola in a 20-13 show. She came 4 rebounds short of a double-double after dropping 18 points against holders Mali.
Resty Nanangwe (Uganda)
Sixteen-year-old Resty Nanangwe is third on the scorers list with a 20-point average in 3 matches. She also leads her side in rebounding with a 7.3 average, hitting double digits in her last match with a double-double of 10 rebounds and 31 points, the tournament's second highest in a single game.
Her run saw Uganda win 2 matches, falling only to Egypt and as they face Tunisia in the Last Eight, she will be instrumental for coach John Omondi as they look to make the Semis.
Kelya Kipo (Cameroon)
She is the highest scorer in a single game with 33 against hosts, South Africa and has helped Cameroon qualify for the Last Eight in their first time of asking.
The lethal guard recovered from a slow start that saw her score just 3 against Tunisia in the opener, erupting for the 33 against South Africa before dropping 20 in their win against Rwanda.
She has averaged 1.7 assists and 3.4 steals, emerging as one of her side's talents to watch.
Luisa Amaral (Angola)
De Agosto's Luisa Amaral has led her side in scoring and assists averaging 17.3 and 4 respectively in the 3 matches. The side won 2 matches, falling 51-43 to Angola.
Amaral scored 16, 5 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in the loss against Mali, 8 points, rebounds and assists with half as many steals in a 74-62 win over Morocco. In a 82-35 win against Zambia, she scored 28 points.
Khadiga Abouelghait (Egypt)
The Gezira Sporting Club's center Khadiga Abouelghait has led Egypt's charge on all fronts averaging 22 in efficiency. The U16 Women's Afrobasket star has averaged 16 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in 3 wins for the Moustafa Atef Hadhood-coached side.
As they face Nigeria in the Quarter- Finals, Abouelghait is expected to partner with Malak Elhemaly and Hana Mohamed Hathout as they did in the Group Stage to go past the West African into the Last Four.
Oumou Dabo (Mali)
French-based centre Oumou Dabo struggled to score in Mali's opening match against Angola, managing just 4 and 11 rebounds, a match she fouled out in the third quarter.
In a short 15 minutes, she dropped a 20 points, 10 rebounds double-double to remain consistent on the boards and establishherself as a weapon for the holders.
She repeated the feat against a stubborn Morocco with an 18-18 show. She has averaged 1.3 assists across the 3 matches played so far.
Idubamo Beggi (Nigeria)
She leads the Nigerians in efficiency, points and assists. She has scored 19.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5 assists as the side won 1 of their 3 matches but managed to score enough for a best third-placed team slot.
She has hit double digits on points in all 3 matches, scoring 23 against Egypt, 20 against Zimbabwe and 16 in 28 minutes against Uganda.
Additional mentions:
- Ines Ben Rejeb, Yoldez Ben Belaid (Tunisia) - Margarida Moniz (Angola) - Mia Belinda (Uganda) - Amarachi Cynthia (South Africa)
FIBA