Kenyan teams miss African basketball show for the first time in over a decade

For the first time since 2010, no Kenyan women's basketball team is playing at the Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA), previously known as the FIBA Africa Women's Clubs Champions Cup until rebranding last year to AWBL and again ahead of this year's show. 

The African competition got underway on Friday 6 December in Dakar, Senegal where 12 teams are set to battle. 

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Former champions and the reigning continental silver medalist Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) as well as league champions Equity Bank Hawks fell short in the Zone Five Qualifiers held in Zanzibar, the former finishing fourth to miss out on a wild card that went to Rwandese silver medalist APR. 

"The level of competition in the Zones has tremendously improved and Kenyan teams will need to do more if they are to surmount this challenge and qualify next time.

Teams are recruiting heavily for these championships and that's the level we need to match up," KPA head coach Antony Ojukwu told Mozzart Sport after missing out on a chance to be in Dakar. 

Defending champions Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) started their campaign for a historic third consecutive crown on Friday 6 December with a 65-49 win over Ivorian champions Friends Basketball Association (FBA).

A 15-7 scoring run in the final quarter guaranteed the Alexandria-based side a win. Hala Elshaarawy led the charge for the defending champions, registering a double-double, the second of the competition with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The champions led by 10 (27-17) in the opening four minutes of the second quarter but Sarah Berthé shot back-to-back from range, Aminata Konaté adding one more down the stretch to pull the Ivorians back for 34-31 heading to the changeover. 

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A 16-11 third-quarter show gave the Egyptians an 8-point advantage (50-42) heading to the final quarter. The difference proved crucial as FBA attempted a comeback in the final stanza, carrying the Amr Elmaraghy-coached side to victory. 

"We did not play our best as the players are still tired after a 24-hour journey to get here.

We expect a better show in the coming matches, but turning the ball over 17 times was the first thing I talked to my players about as that cannot happen in coming matches," coach Elmaraghy told FIBA.basketball. 

Meanwhile, hosts ASC Ville de Dakar took to the court for the opening match against Cameroon's FAP with the home fans carrying their side to a 57-54 victory.

Malian Elisabeth Dabou led the charge for the home side, scoring 13 and coming a rebound short of a double-double. Foune Sissoko also contributed 13 in the hard-fought victory.

Additional reporting by FIBA