DAKAR (Senegal) - Four times the city of Dakar has hosted the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) predecessor FIBA Africa Women's Basketball Cup and four times home clubs have shone in the continental showpiece. Hosting the inaugural edition in 1985, AS Bopp lifted the title; Dakar UC repeated the feat in 1993, 1997 and 1999 but that was the last time a Senegalese side has tasted victory, even after the competition became an annual event in 2005. As Dakar hosts the 2024 WBLA, 2023 winner with Alexandria Sporting Club Fatou Diagne is confident that her side ASC Ville de Dakar has what it takes to continue this streak for her city as she represents her home club.
The 28-year-old, who had no time to prepare with her team before the competition, ongoing at the Marius Ndiaye Arena, as she was finishing her season in Brazil and only made it to Senegal on the opening match day, told FIBA.basketball that the title has been a long time coming and winning it would be a dream come true. "We are eager to deliver this title for the Senegalese fans" Diagne says.
"[ASC Ville de Dakar fans] They have come out in their numbers in the opening two matches and we want to repay that loyalty.
"It is always good to play at home and the target is to continue the legacy that those clubs started years ago.
"It is, however, no easy task as the competition has really improved and teams have recruited well. We have a good squad with very talented players but that could be said about every team here," the 1,95m (6ft 5in) center added.
Powered by Malian 20-year-old Elisabeth Dabou, the home side came from behind in their opening Group A match to pick a clutch 57-54 win, in a match that Fatou played just four minutes, having arrived in the country on the same day. Against Nigeria's MFM Queens, the side had a dominant display to win 81-50 and Dabou was once more the star of the show registering the highest efficiency in the competition so far, at 34 after a double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds. The Malian rising star added six assists, a steal and a block to lead the hosts to a 2-0 run.
Diagne, a key member of the Senegalese national team that won silver in the 2019 and 2023 Women's AfroBasket, will be up against her former side Al Ahly Sporting in the final Group A match.
In the build-up of ASC Ville de Dakar's meeting with the Egyptian champions, Diagne admits this is a match that will put her side to the test while also helping them gauge their preparedness against strong side.
Al Ahly SC have won their opening matches 99-49 and 89-63 against MFM Queens and FAP respectively. "They have a really good squad and we would need to play very well to stop them. It will be an interesting match too given one of their players Madjiguene Sene played for our team in the regular league, going in to be named MVP," she offered. The Moustapa Gueye-coached team will hope to win the clash, slated for Tuesday December 10 to head to the knockout stages as the best placed team.
FIBA