DAKAR (Senegal) - Ferroviario de Maputo were on Sunday 15 December crowned 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) champions after an 81-72 victory over Egypt's Al Ahly Sporting Club at Marius Ndiaye Arena in Dakar.
This was the third title for the Nasir Salé-coached Mozambique side after their back-to-back victories in 2018 and 2019, with the returning Ingvild Mucauro and unstoppable Anabela Cossa leading the charge for a 6-0 show that included a win against a star-studded APR in the Semis.
In the Final match, 2019 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Mucauro put up a man-of-the-match performance, despite fouling out in the crucial last two minutes of the match to lead the team to victory.
She scored 18 points, seven rebounds and as many steals, adding four assists for a game-high 25 in efficiency, all in 34:41 minutes. Silvia Veloso also scored 18 points while grabbing 11 rebounds to complete the only double-double for her side in the Final, adding five assists and as many steals. Carla Covane who scored 16 and was a rebound shy off a double-double.
Al Ahly' SC's Ndioma Kané was named MVP of the competition, having led the Egyptian champions to silver.
Averaging 13 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists, she proved instrumental for the Egyptians, more so in their dramatic 65-64 victory against hosts ASC Ville de Dakar in the Semis. She scored a team-high 18 points, 9 defensive rebounds, seven blocks, and six assists in the win.
In the Final she dropped 16 points, coming within a block of a rare double-double. She added six rebounds, four steals and three assists but it was not enough to take the 2019 bronze medalists over the line for gold.
The Senegal international was named on the All-Tournament team alongside her team-mate Raneem Elgedawy, APR's Shaina Pellington, Ferroviario's Mucauro and ASC Ville de Dakar's Kamite Elisabeth Dabou.
Pellington took home the top scorer award, while REG's Aminata Ly was named best rebounder and Ferroviario's Anabela was named best three-point shooter.
Côte d'Ivoire champions Friend's Basketball Association took home the Fair Play trophy.
APR completed the podium places after beating home side ASC Ville de Dakar 96-94 in overtime, a massive improvement from their 2022 debut where they went 0-6 for last place.
The competition witnessed two sold out matches as Senegalese fans flocked the 4,800-seater Arena in the host side's matches against Al Ahly SC in the last group phase and the Semis, the Egyptians winning both encounters.
2024 WBLA Final Standings:
1. Ferroviario de Maputo (Mozambique) 6-0 2. Al Ahly Sporting Club (Egypt) 5-1 3. APR (Rwanda) 4-2 4. ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal) 3-3 5. Friend's Basketball Association (Cote d'Ivoire) 4-2 6. REG (Rwanda) 3-3 7. C.N.S.S (DR Congo) 2-4 8. Jeanne D'Arc (Senegal) 1-5 9. Alexandria Sporting Club (Egypt) 2-2 10. MFM Queens (Nigeria) 0-4 11. FAP (Cameroon) 2-2 12. ASB Makomeno (DR Congo) 0-4
FIBA