Egypt battle holders Mali for FIBA U16 Women's African Championship title

 

MONASTIR (Tunisia) - Egypt stand in the way of Mali winning the 2023 FIBA U16 Women's African Championship title for the eighth consecutive time as the two sides dominated their respective Semi-Finals clashes to book tickets to Saturday's Final. 

EGYPT OWN ANGOLA FOR FINAL BERTH

Playing Angola, the Emadeldin Mahmoud-coached Egypt dominated the match from the second quarter to take a 75-34 commanding victory. 

The first and fourth quarter were competitive but the latter did not matter as Egypt had already put the match beyond the Angolans. 

Angola fought in the first quarter,  trailing by a single point in a 12-11 score line, but crumbled under Egypt's pressure in the second period, managing 12 points while letting in 32 to carry a 21-point deficit into the break (44-23). 

On resumption, Egypt kept the fire burning, especially on defense, as they outscored the Angolans 16-2 and it was all but done for the latter even as the final stanza ended 15-9 in favour of the winners. 

Injy Amr Elghayesh bagged a game-high 18 points as Khadiga Abouelghait added 13 to the tally. Malak Elhemaly was good on 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Margarida Solunga scored 10 for Angola in just over 31 minutes to emerge as her side's top scorer. 

MALI'S BRILLIANCE REMAINS UNDEFEATED 

Up against hosts Tunisia, who were keen to deny the seven-time champions a chance to go for another title, Mali's dominance and depth was on display as they picked a 87-54 victory to book a Final slot. 

A highly enthusiastic Tunisia managed to subdue Mali in the first quarter, going up 21-20 to raise the home fans' hopes for a magical night that would see them fight for a maiden title against fellow North African, Egypt who had qualified in an earlier Semi-Finals fixture. 

Moussa Sidibe's charges were, however, almost an entirely different side in the second quarter as they rose for 20 points, punishing the hosts who only managed 5 to relinquish their lead and put a 14-point dent on their tally. 

The third quarter was a Mali affair as they outscored Wissem Chrayet's charges 30-12 to continue their hold on to the lead and make sure it would take Tunisia a miracle to fight back for a win. The final period ended 17-16 with Mali still on top, crushing the host's hopes. 

Assitan Diarisso was good for 25 points and 8 rebounds in just 26 minutes as Oumou Ouattara and Couda Keita added 12 and 10 points respectively to Mali's victory. 

Malak Chehidi was Tunisia's top scorer with 17 points and 9 rebounds, all on defense.

MOROCCO GET THE BETTER OF UGANDA FOR FIFTH-PLACE FINISH

Coach Thami Senouni led Morocco to a 65-56 victory over Uganda to finish this year's championship in fifth place.

Sabrin El Hilali played the entire match, scoring 26 points as her side dominated three quarters 8-5, 19-18 and 21-15, only letting the East Africans dictate, albeit in a small way, the final quarter in a 18-17 outcome that did not threaten their lead, despite coming close. Ines Boulboul added 16 to the final tally. 

Modesta Anyango - the only Ugandan to score in double digits - tallied 26 points, having only been out of action for 31 seconds in the entire match. 

RWANDA BEAT GUINEA FOR SEVENTH-PLACE FINISH

Skipper Teta Nicole and Emlyne Iragena combined for 26 points as Moise Mutokambali's Rwanda beat Guinea 54-43 to finish the FIBA U16 Women's African Championship in seventh place. 

Guinea's charge was led by Zenabou Diack who top scored with a massive double-double of 23 points and 21 rebounds, 20 on defense but her solo run was not enough to hand the Mohamed Fode Kourouma's girls to victory. 

FIBA