DAKAR(Senegal) - The battle for the 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) title enters the knockout stages with eight teams vying for the crown left vacant by two-time African champions Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC).
Two teams, Al Ahly SC who led Group A and Group C winners Ferroviario de Maputo, head to the Quarter-Finals set for Friday 13 December on a perfect 3-0 show.
The duo play Congo DR's CNSS and Senegal's Jeanne D'Arc, the two teams that made the Last-Eight as the third-best placed finishers.
Al Ahly SC favourites against CNNS
On paper, the Egyptian champions, who headlined Group A, are favourites against Koko Ade's CNSS with history also favouring them. The two sides last met in the 2019 African competition in a 117-53 outcome.
Granted these are different squads, the Tarek AbouzieFrid-coached Zone 5 champions are still favourites.
However, CNSS proved a tough nut to crack for outgoing champions Sporting Alexandria and are expected to put up a fight for a shot at the semis.
"It has been a dream for the last year, after missing the 2023 edition that we were meant to host, and we are ready for the knockout stages,"Aliaa Mahmoud, Al Ahly SC's assistant coach said.
Statistically, Al Ahly SC dominate the numbers with higher shooting percentages, averaging 83 points while the Congolese have shot 57.3.
Coach Ade, has his work cut out against the Egyptians, coming off a tough loss to Friends Basketball Association (FBA), a result that denied his side a direct ticket.
APR face FBA test, again
Star-studded APR take on debutants Friend's Basketball Association (FBA) in a repeat of their group B encounter that the latter won 63-55.
Rwandese silver medalist, who qualified for the 2024 WBLA on a wild card, went through as the second best team in the group headlined by the Ivorian champions.
While FBA recovered from a 65-49 loss to holders Sporting Alexandria to pick wins against the Rwandese (63-55) and CNSS (65-43), Charles Mushumba's charges won 73-68 against CNSS before their loss to Lémou Benga's side. They held on for a 74-72 win against ASC, setting the stage for an exciting Quarter-Finals.
Mushumba's side will be on a revenge mission while the Ivorians will want to prove their win was not a fluke.
Coach Mushumba who had only five players scoring in their win against Sporting Alexandria believes they have what it takes to go all the way. "I do try to play everyone but there are some players getting more time and I believe they will get us through the remaining matches," Mushumba says.
There's little separating the two sides. APR hold the advantage on points average (67.3 - 59), Benga's charges leading the battle in the paint (29.3/23.3). The Rwandese, however, have a clear lead on shooting from range, carrying a 33.8% conversion rate against FBA's 20.5%.
Who carries the day as REG, ASCVD clash ?
Home side ASC Ville de Dakar, keen to continue Dakar's history face a charged up Rwanda Energy Group (REG) who are out to go beyond their fourth-place finish in last year's edition.
Both sides come to the match on the back of 2-1 runs.
Moustapha Gaye's charges have had the electric home fans pulling them through some difficult match-ups but they came short against Al Ahly in their last match to place second in Group A while the Rwandese champions lost to Ferroviario de Maputo in their opener.
Senegalese rising star Aminata Ly has led the charge for REG in the groups phase while youngster Kamite Elisabeth Dabou has been the go-to for the home side, leading both in efficiency and points. The duo is expected to pull their respective sides through.
"I made a mistake, underestimated the competition last year in the Semis, and we won't make that mistake again. I will give the knockouts a hundred percent. The team is different now, so is the staff and I know we will come on top," Destiny Promise Philoxy who has led REG in scoring with a 16.7 average said.
Ferroviario keen to continue winning streak
Former African MVP Ingvild Mucauro admitted that Ferroviario de Maputo had approached their match against Jeanne D'Arc in the group phase a little too confident and as the two sides meet again in the Quarter Finals, it is a mistake the Nasir Salé-coached side will not make.
The two-time African champions head to the clash as favourites, having won the last encounter 64-30. Their Senegalese opponents, one of the most defensive sides in this competition, are expected to mount a challenge, powered by the home fans.
"We know we have a slight height disadvantage as coach admitted after our match against Jeanne D'Arc but we are stronger. We have to think about the qualities that we are better in as we face the knockouts. We have to play together, box out better and play like we want it more," Ingvild said after leading her side to a dominant 88-38 show against ASB Makomeno in the last group match.
FIBA