DAKAR (Senegal)- The excitement at the Marius Ndiaye Arena in Dakar is almost palpable as 12 teams go neck to neck from 6 to 15 December in search of the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA) title.
Defending champions Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) return to the competition with a squad that has seen seven changes made to the playing unit and a new coach, looking to become the first side to bag three in a row.
We didn't come here just to participate - Ingvild Mucauro
The Egyptian champions have been placed in Group B alongside Rwanda's APR who made the competition on a wild card after finishing third in the Zone Five Qualifiers. The pool is completed by Cote d'Ivoire's Friends Basketball and Democratic Republic of Congo's C.N.S.S.
Skipper Gina Helmy says ASC are ready to make history in the women's competition, but was quick to acknowledge that they are fielding a relatively young squad from last year's and that could get challenging.
"We want to win it for the third in a row. It is a different team but it is the same spirit and effort we bring.
"We are ready to defend our title. We made changes, some left and some of our key players like Hagar Amer and Habiba Elgizawy are unavailable. We have a few obstacles and a young squad but we will fight," Helmy told FIBA.basketball.
Charles Mushumba's APR, meanwhile, are ready to make amends in their first continental appearance since finishing 0-6 at 2022 FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women in Maputo, Mozambique.
"Most of us played in the Zone Five Qualifiers and have that chemistry and the coaches have been doing a good job of making sure we get all the plays right. We get a chance to do something special and are ready and excited about it. The approach will be to win each game," Shaina Pellington, one of Mushumba's key players in the Qualifiers held in Zanzibar, said.
On the team landing the signing of WNBA star Kierstan Bell, Canadian Shaina Pellington, who played in this year's Paris Olympics, says she is a great asset to the side.
"She (Bell) has a lot of experience and it will be good to have her expertise out there. We are learning a lot from her. We have players who have played at the top level but some have not played in Africa before. The squad is well balanced and that uniqueness could help us measure well against the other teams," Pellington added.
Ivorian champions Friends Basketball, meanwhile, look to make a memorable debut with Kolga Safietou declaring the team ready.
Safietou said: "We made it through the qualifiers thanks to some players who played at this level last year so we know we are up against very experienced teams. We will, however, strive to go as high as we possibly could given the level here."
Group A meanwhile, is headlined by home side ASC Ville de Dakar who have Elisabeth Dabou in their ranks. The Malian has won AfroBasket titles at the U16 and U18 levels and played in two U19 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cups.
She has also played at the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and her experience, despite being just 20, will be crucial for the hosts.
"Playing at home is not easy but we are up to the challenge and ready to go. We have to bring our best. We have to execute on the coach's game plan to perfection," Dabou offered.
Elsewhere, Zone Five winners Al Ahly Sporting, who just lifted the Egyptian Super Cup title, Cameroon's FAP and Mountain of Fire Miracles complete the pool.
Al Ahly SC's' Nadine Mohamed, who was named the best player in the Zone Five Qualifiers, has declared her side ready for battle.
"We have wanted to be here for long so this is a dream come true. After qualifying we played and won the Super Cup back home before proceeding to camp and we are ready to conquer.
"We have made a few additions to the team and it is a bit different and might be a challenge at first but we are happy to have them.
"They are good additions to the team as they add good value having played professionally in the top leagues," Al Ahly's Nadine Mohamed said.
She says with a higher level of competition expected, she is looking forward to take to the floor against formidable opposition.
The last Group, C, has pitted last year's fourth-place finishers Rwanda Energy Group (REG) against home side Jeanne D'Arc who received a last-minute wild card to replace Nigeria's Customs, Ferroviario de Maputo and ASB Makomeno of Congo DR.
The Rwandese side finished second in Zone 5 Qualifiers, behind Egyptians Al Ahly SC, and, Victoria Reynolds, who turned up for Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) last year, beating the Rwandese side in the Semis, says it will not be easy for her side, but the target is the championship.
"We want first place and that's what we are going for. It is going to be tough as everyone has recruited but we hope go all the way," she said.
Mozambique's Ferroviario come into the competition on the back of less-than-ideal preparations given the political unrest in their country, but former African MVP Ingvild Mucauro, who returns with a home side after leading Angola's Inter Clube to bronze last year, is confident of their chances.
"We did our best given the situation. We love what we do and have the motivation. We have our families back home rooting for us.
"We have to represent them well, represent the best parts of Mozambique and how the women are strong despite the situation.
"We are happy to be here and we want to win. We will do the best to play good basketball. We didn't come here just to participate, it will be tough but it will mean a lot to lead my home club to doing better than I did last year," Mucauro told FIBA.basketball.
FIBA