The guests stole the present on the opening day of the Girls’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Zone 3 qualifiers in Abidjan, as First Bank of Nigeria surprised house favourites CSA of Côte d’Ivoire 66–55, whereas host group Mates Basketball Affiliation (FBA) fell 63–56 to Beninese champions Energie.
First Financial institution Go away It Late to Subdue CSA
The Elephant Ladies, as First Financial institution are fondly referred to as, began slowly however completed with authority to seal a big win over final season’s vice-champions of Côte d’Ivoire.
Regardless of trailing for a lot of the sport, the Nigerians staged a late comeback, with Wandoo Hembam’s essential three-pointer giving them the lead for less than the second time—simply 3:50 left within the fourth quarter.
That basket sparked a dominant end for First Financial institution, who powered by the ultimate interval with a commanding 30–12 run.
Previous to that surge, that they had misplaced the primary quarter 16–9, received the second 14–13, and went into halftime trailing by seven. CSA edged the third quarter 14–13, however the Nigerian champions delivered their finest when it mattered most.
Hembam was excellent, posting a game-high 24 factors, 3 rebounds and 4 assists with an effectivity score of twenty-two. Momoluwa Tewogbade added 13 factors, 2 rebounds and a pair of assists in just below 18 minutes of motion. With solely 9 gamers obtainable, coaches Julie Negedu and Seun Akinwale had been pressured to rotate cautiously however nonetheless guided their aspect to a powerful win.
For CSA, Hanna Amani and Ndeye Sene every scored 11 factors, although their contributions weren’t sufficient to maintain the Ivorians forward. Head coach Aboulaye Lucien Coulibaly will now look to regroup forward of their subsequent outing.
Energie Shock Hosts FBA
The second recreation of the day delivered one other upset, as Energie of Benin outlasted hosts FBA 63–56 in entrance of a vigorous crowd on the Palais des Sports activities de Treichville. Regardless of the loss, followers witnessed a extremely entertaining contest marked by seven lead modifications.
Energie opened with an 18–16 first-quarter lead however faltered within the second, shedding 22–12 as FBA grabbed management of the sport. The momentum shifted dramatically after the break, with Energie dominating the third quarter 16–5 and sustaining their composure within the fourth to seal a 17–13 end.
Nassarat Arouna Mama delivered a stellar double-double—17 factors, 15 rebounds and a pair of assists—to guide Energie, whereas Bintou Traoré added 17 factors and eight rebounds.
Aku Afetse contributed 10 factors and 4 rebounds, and Veronica Keita impressed defensively with 12 rebounds and a pair of assists regardless of scoring simply 8 factors.
Head coach Oswald Quenum’s scouting of final yr’s Liberian champions proved decisive, with Energie executing their recreation plan to perfection.
For FBA, Djeneba Sangare led all scorers with 19 factors and 4 rebounds, whereas Priscilia Amalabian chipped in 10 factors and 6 rebounds. Nevertheless, the hosts’ 19 turnovers—in comparison with Energie’s 18—and a big rebounding deficit (49 to 64) proved pricey.
Each outcomes set the tone for what guarantees to be an unpredictable and fiercely contested WBLA Zone 3 qualifying marketing campaign in Abidjan.
