Khadiga fires Egypt to U16 Women’s Semis as Mali continue dominance
Teenage sensation Khadiga Abouelghait exploded for 18 points and 8 rebounds in just 23:31 minutes on the floor to guide Egypt to the Semi-Finals of the ongoing FIBA U16 Women’s African Championship.
MONASTIR (Tunisia) - Teenage sensation Khadiga Abouelghait exploded for 18 points and 8 rebounds in just 23:31 minutes on the floor to guide Egypt to the Semi-Finals of the ongoing FIBA U16 Women’s African Championship in Monastir, Tunisia.
The 16-year-old was joined by Injy Amr in bagging double digits in points, as the latter added 16 to the North Africans' tally as they dispensed off rivals Rwanda 84-15 to stroll to the Last Four.
So dominant were Egypt that Rwanda only managed a mere 8 points in the first half, with a single jump-shot basket from Erinestine Uwitonze, the only points the East Africans managed in the second quarter.
Emadeldin Mahmoud's charges scored 22 points in the first quarter, adding 15 in the second to carry a 29-point advantage into the half-time break.
Matters were no different in the third quarter as Rwanda stood no chance against the clearly better Egyptian side as they scored two more points, this time through a Natacha Neza jump-shot almost five minutes into the period, while letting in 24 to go 51 points behind.
The final period, a dead rubber by all means if a quarter can be dubbed as such, was just a show of muscle for Mahmoud's charges who scored 23 while restricting Rwanda to 5.
Keva Nyirishema Kaliza made two for 12, Dorcas Uwase converted once from the free-throw line while skipper Teta Nicole converted two of three from the free-throw line as well, to take her tally to 5 and get Rwanda's final score to 15.
The Moise Mutokambali-coached East African side has now been relegated to the classification matches while Egypt face the winner of the quarter-finals clash between Uganda and Angola, slated for Wednesday 19 July.
MALI, THE TEAM TO BEAT
Meanwhile, Mali continued their match for an eighth championship, having won their quarters pairing against lowly Guinea 142-15.
As the final score suggests, the Moussa Sidibe-coached Mali dominated on all fronts in quarters to comfortably qualify for Friday's Semi-Finals against the winner of Wednesday's quarters clash between Morocco and hosts Tunisia.
Couda Keita led the scoring for Mali with 27 points as Assitan Diarisso added 19 to the tally. Suzane Dembele and Mariam samake made 18 each in the totally annihilation of Guinea.
Zenabou Diack scored seven of Guinea's 15 points in the loss that relegates the coastal country to classification matches in Monastir.
Two matches are set for Wednesday as Uganda take on Angola while Morocco play Tunisia in search of a Semi- Final place.
FIBA