The FIBA Zone 3 Women’s Qualifiers for the Inaugural edition of the FIBA Women’s African Basketball League; got off to a flying start in Abuja, on Sunday evening, with ASPAC Cotonou from the Republic of Benin defeating champions of Nigeria, Mountain of Fire and Miracles by 53-48 dunks.
The FIBA Zone 3 championship, which is a qualifier to the continental finals billed to take place in the Egyptian city of Alexandria from December 11-19, 2023; is being played at the MO Arena in Wuse, Abuja.
Having won the opening game, ASPAC Cotonou will return to the same court on Monday, to face Nigeria Customs (the vice-champions of Nigeria), knowing that victory in this one, will guarantee them a place in the continental tournament.
On the other hand, an unlikely victory for Nigeria Customs as widely envisiaged, will further open the competition, and allow MFM a way back into contention from the backdoor; when the round robin format adopted for the three-team qualifiers ends on Tuesday evening with Shade Olukoua Girls facing the Customs ladies, in an all Nigeria finalé.
Two other teams, Elan Cotonou of Benin Republic, and Nigeria’s Air Warriors of Abuja; who were due to compete on none scoring basis, failed to show up for the qualifiers.
As at today, eight (8) teams have ensured their places in the 2023 AWBL while five (5) others are expected to face regional qualifiers for the eagerly-anticipated tournament.
Sporting Alexandria, who won the 2022 edition of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Maputo and Al Ahly Sporting Club will carry Egypt’s flag throughout the AWBL.
Other teams qualified so far include Kenya’s Kenya Ports Authority, who clinched FIBA Africa Zone 5 qualifier over the weekend in Kigali, and Rwanda Energy Group which finished second.
Overdose Up Station and fellow Camerounians Universite Douala have also secured their flights to the Egyptian capital, from Central Africa; while Angolan sides – Primeiro de Agosto and Inter Clube both qualified for the tournament without playing their FIBA Africa Zone 6 qualifiers.
They punched their tickets after Costa do Sol (Mozambique), UNAM Phoenix (Namibia), and UZ Sparks (Zimbabwe), failed to attend the qualifier in the Angolan capital, Luanda “citing some logistical reasons.”
FIBA Africa therefore rules that Primeiro de Agosto and Inter Clube have “qualified for the Final Round.”
With just about a week to the jump-up, FIBA Africa has promised to release more details such as date for the 2023 AWBL draw.
