MOZ/SEN - Traore leads Desportiva to ACCW title

ABIDJAN (African Clubs Champions Women) - After nine days of high emotions and upsets, the curtain came down in Abidjan and the final night was Senegal international’s Aya Traore.

She showed high class in leading Mozambican side Liga Desportiva to a 53-43 win in the title game over the African Clubs Champions Women (ACCW) defending champions, Inter Clube de Luanda of Angola.

Traore was simply unstoppable as she had 22 points, nine of them from behind the arc, to claim Liga Desportivo’s first ACCW title.

On the other hand, Inter Clube, who made it to the final unbeaten in six games, were unable to win their third consecutive ACCW, despite Angolan international Astrida Vicente’s 15 points.

However it was veteran Clarisse Machanguana, a former WNBA player with a lot of experience, who was named the tournament's MVP.

The 39-year-old won her first ACCW trophy as she contributed with five points and three rebounds in the final game, but it was her leadership and performance throughout the tournament that made a positive difference for the new champions.

Mozambique point guard Deolinda Ngulela spent all game on court and finished with nine points and three assists, while Ingvild Mucauro had a game-high eight rebounds.

Leia Dongue who had a determining performance (14 points and 11 rebounds) in the 69-47 semi-final win 47 over Abidjan Basket Club, played eight minutes in the gold medal game and finished with only two points.

“I am pleased with the title as it was a team effort to come to Abidjan and win this title,” she said.

This was Dongue's second ACCW title. She won her first at age of 17, helping Mozambique outfit Desportivo de Maputo to win the 2008 tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.

Inter Clube de Luanda’s Tierra Henderson fought to win her second ACCW title, but they fell short.

“It was Murphy's Law, everything that could go wrong went wrong,” she said.

Inter Clube de Luanda struggled with their perimeter gamer as she made only nine points in eighteen attempts.

“We missed a lot of easy baskets that we would usually make for the most part. I wouldn’t say it was our defense because we would be down by 10 then cut it to four points all throughout the game.

“We just had a lack of focus and that goes for all my teammates across the board. Some people say fatigue played a factor but I don’t believe so we just couldn’t make a basket,” Henderson explained.

Machanguana, Ngulela, Astrida Vicente, Nacissela Maurício and Leia Dongue made up the all-tournament team.

Aisha Mohamed of First Bank became the tournament top-rebounder.

In the bronze medal game, ABC upset Angolan giants Primeiro D’Agosto with a narrow 51-49 win.

Hosts Sportif Club Abidjan finished fifth after with a 4-3 record while Tunisian side Club Sportif Sfax ended in sixth.

Both Nigerian sides, First Bank and First Deepwater came seventh and eighth, respectively.

Kenyan Eagle Wings managed a win whereas Gabonese NDella finished winless.

Arc-en-ciel of DR Congo and their counterpart RADI withdrew from the tournament.

FIBA