PRETORIA (South Africa) - After 10 matches across the three U18 Women's AfroBasket groups, things are taking shape with favourites living up to expectations.
Here are a few things we have learnt so far.
Tunisia still a force
Coming into the championship, having lost the qualifiers final to Morocco at home, Tunisia have proven to be the sleeping giant we have always known the former champions (2004) to be.
Returning for the first time since 2014, the now Group A leaders with back-to-back wins against debutants Cameroon (73-59) and a clutch 74-71 victory against Uganda are proving themselves a force.
As they conclude their group stage campaign against winless South Africa on Sunday 8 September, the Wissem Chrayet-coached side are expected to go unbeaten thus making themselves a team to watch in the knockout stages.
Cameroon, Rwanda offering a scintillating battle
Group A matches conclude on Sunday, 8 September with debutants Cameroon taking on returning Rwanda, back after their 2018 debut.
The two sides head to the game on the back of a win and a loss each. They are tied on three points, the Central Africans ahead on a better points difference.
Kelya Kipo has been quite the revelation for Cameroon, especially against South Africa. She led the scoring against the hosts, dropping a tournament-high of 33 points and was denied a double-double by a single rebound. She also made 4 assists and 5 steals for a 27 in efficiency.
She had, however, struggled offensively against a more superior Tunisia, scoring 3 points off the free-throw line.
It remains to be seen how coach Jacques Bahige will deploy his arsenal led by the indefatigable Brigitte Nibishaka to counter the Cameroonians. The winner of this clash will highly likely qualify for the quarters automatically.
Mali still the team to beat?
Holders and record champions Mali continue to dominate the U18 Women's AfroBasket and as they go for a title defense, their opening match was a true test, one they passed albeit with questions as Angola pushed them for a 51-43 outcome.
They play yet another tough match against debutants Morocco on Friday 6 September with a win proving beneficial as the North Africans lead the standings in Group B with a better points difference, having won their opening match 75-56 against Zambia.
Khadiga Abouelghait's star keeps on shining
Egypt have, so far, remained perfect, winning their opening two matches convincingly against Nigeria ( 72-60) and Uganda (76-53) and one player who has lived up to expectations is Khadiga Abouelghait.
The Gezira Sporting Club's center has averaged 15 points in the two matches, 19 against Nigeria and 11 in the other clash. She had 12 rebounds in the clash against Uganda for a double-double.
Abouelghait starred for Egypt in last year’s U16 AfroBasket averaging 11.2 points, 8 rebounds and a 14.2 efficiency average in six matches played. Egypt lost to Mali in the final.
She was also in action as the Northeast Africans took revenge on Mali on the international stage, defeating them 55-53 in the 9-16 classification matches. She averaged 10.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists in seven matches as Egypt finished 11th, two places above African champions Mali.
She is proving one to watch at the U18 level and even as coach Moustafa Atef Hadhood claims to have a weak side with some key players unavailable, Abouelghait is leading a squad that looks fit to fight for the title.
FIBA