Guinea upset hosts Cape Verde in Game 1 of Africa Zone 2 Qualifiers

PRAIA (Cape Verde) - Guinea on Friday night upset hosts Cape Verde 50-48 in the first of two games of FIBA Africa Zone 2 Qualifiers for this year's FIBA Women's AfroBasket. 

Although Cape Verde led 27-24 at halftime and led by three (39-36) heading to the final quarter, Guinea saved their best for last.

The visitors - inspired by an outstanding Batouly Camara - outscored the islanders 14-9 in the last ten minutes to clinch Game 1 of the regional Qualifiers.

Cape Verde tried a number of defence strategies to stop Batouly Camara

A University of Connecticut standout Camara, couldn't have had a better debut for her country as she scored twelve of her game-high 20 points from behind the arc. 23-year-old Aicha Mara added eleven points as Guinea took control of their Zone 2 Qualifiers destiny with an important win.

Aicha Mara (Guinea) is seen here during a 2017 FIBA Women's AfroBasket game against Tunisia

Ornela Livramento did a bit of everything, leading Cape Verde with a team-best 13 points, team captain Jade Leitao added eleven points to her account, but Camara owned the show sentencing the outcome from the charity stripe.

In order to turn the elimination around, Cape Verde will need to beat Guinea by two points or more in Sunday's Game 2 at Vava Duarte Gymnasium in the capital Praia.

FIBA