DAKAR (Senegal) - DR Congo's CNSS, who made the Quarter-Finals as one of the two best third-placed teams, had nothing on Al Ahly Sporting Club in Friday's first game of the 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA), going down 89-36. A 27-5 opening quarter for the Zone Five champions, indicative of the difference in the quality levels between the two teams, set the pace for the remaining part of the encounter as the other quarters, predictably, ended 25-10, 21-8, and 16-13 as the Egyptian champions dominated on all fronts. CNSS were a pale shadow of the side that subjected outgoing champions Alexandria Sporting Club to their first defeat in three editions, a loss that eventually saw the Egyptian side finish last in the group phase.
TURNING POINT: Tarek Abouzied's charges left no chance for CNSS to build anything, starting the match off with an 11-5 run, seven for Ndioma Kané in the opening five minutes to give her side the momentum. CNSS only put up a fight in the final stanza, Bintou Drame who has been CNSS's star player and Veronique Mendy contributing four each.
HERO: WNBA talent Dyaisha Fair hit 4-of-5 from range adding four on the paint to finish the game with 20 points. She picked five rebounds, three assists and two steals for a 27 in efficiency rating.
STATS DON'T LIE: For a 55-point win Al Ahly SC dominated on all fronts their 14-of-34 on threes making a big contribution. CNSS only dropped five in 29 attempts. The Egyptian side went 27-9 on fast break points with their bench also contributing 39 against 14.
BOTTOM LINE: The performance cements Al Ahly SC as one of the favourites for the crown left vacant by their countrymen while CNSS who finished ninth in the 2023 edition, will look to repeat their feat from 2022 where they finished seventh.
THEY SAID: "Away from the win we wanted a smooth win to avoid any injuries and make good rotations to rest all the players for the coming matches.
"The competition is getting tougher but we are ready for the semis. We are trying not to be under any pressure as we proceed. We have wanted the championship since last year and while the attention is on us, we are taking the positives and getting ready to win," Al Ahly assistant coach Aliaa Gamel.
FIBA