ZANZIBAR (Tanzania) - Al Ahly Sporting Club of Egypt are the first side at the ongoing FIBA Zone 5 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Qualifiers to book their ticket to the December showpiece slated for Dakar.
The Tarek Abouzeid-led side humbled the Zone's defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 104-63 to book their ticket to the African competition.
It did not take long for Al Ahly SC to send a statement of intent as they raced to a 20-0 lead, humbling the reigning African silver medalists who could not stop the Egyptians on transition and struggles to make use of their possessions, giving turnover after another.
Alima Doumbia saved KPA's blushes, opening their account with 3.35 minutes on the clock for 20-2 but the dismal show continued for the Kenyan side who found themselves down 28-4, Hilda Indasi scoring the other basket down the stretch.
The frustration on KPA's players was visible in the second quarter as they still trailed 35-14 four minutes into the second period with Nadine Mohamed and Raneem Elgedawy doing most of the damage with 10 and 8 points at that stage of the match. KPA went on their biggest scoring run, sinking 10 for 45-26 as the quarter ended 50-26.
Al Ahly maintained their momentum off the locker rooms, going on a 19-10 run in the opening half of the third stanza to lead 69-36, further doubling their advantage at 75-37 and there was not chance for a comeback for the Antony Ojukwu-coached Dockers despite a 22-all third quarter. A 34-18 final quarter sealed the win for Abouzeid's charges.
Turning Point: Against this Al Ahly SC side, 11 points off turnovers and seven off fast breaks in the opening quarter is a hole very few of the Zone 5 teams competing could recover from, so is the 28-4 start.
Game Hero: We have to give it to Al Ahly's transition defense that locked KPA from the get-go. Offensively, Nadine Mohamed and Raheem Elgedawy led the numbers with 19 and 16 respectively.
Stats Don’t Lie: A 67.5% shooting percentage on the paint for the Egyptian side as compared to 42.55% for the reigning African silver medalists made a huge difference. Abouzeid's charges also punished KPA's 18 turnovers, scoring 21 against 9 from 14 turnovers for KPA. Al Ahly's squad depth was also on display as their bench contributed 44 against KPA's 18.
Bottom Line: Al Ahly SC will be in Dakar, Senegal as they look to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Alexandria Sporting who have won the last two African titles.
FIBA