ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) - Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) will show up in the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women 2022 in Maputo, Mozambique and they are not going there, merely to add up the numbers.

The Egyptian champions are ready to take on seasoned heavyweights like Ferroviaro de Maputo and Angolan powerhouse Inter Clube de Luanda when the show gets underway  this week.

ASC, who are current Egyptian champions having also won the Super Cup, have 17 domestic titles and have lifted the cup seven times are ready to cause ripples.

The Alexandria-based side will be going out to better a podium finish by compatriots Al Ahly who bagged the bronze at home in Cairo in 2019 when Ferroviaro de Maputo pipped Inter Clube 91-90 in overtime for the title.

And coach Abdelrahman Mohamed has shaped his charges for the contest ahead. His focus is to make a mark by put Egypt high in the map in this continental club contest.

He told FIBA.basketball that he expects a tough competition from some of Africa's big teams. "It will be interesting for everyone and a great challenge for us," he offered.

After winning the FIBA Africa Zone Five in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in October, the tactician revealed that they have worked hard to build a team chemistry and shape a strong team for the tournament.

The Dar es Salaam festival was only their first showing in the regional meeting and yet ASC made an instant statement, putting every team including seasoned champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to the sword.

In a tough Finals match held at the Benjamin Mkapa Indoor Stadium in Dar es Salaam, ASC dethroned eight-time champions KPA 78-67.

The Alexandrians nipped Rwanda Energy Group (REG) of Rwanda 49-45 in a hard-fought Semi-Finals. En route to the Finals, they also dispatched former champions Equity Bank Hawks of Kenya.

ASC captain Hagar Amer, who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP), was on top of her game.

The Egyptian international player led all scorers with game-high of 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds while logging 34.58 minutes per game.

Hagar Amer (N.14)

After her heroics in hat energy sapping finals game, she opened up saying the team worked hard to claim the crown in only their first outing in the regional event and promised the team will not disappoint in Maputo. That time has arrived.

There is the lightening quick playmaker Reem Moussa who dished out a record 11 assists. Helping hands will also come from the other trio of Asrar Maged, Nadin Yaser and Nourhan Ahmed.

But ASC will surely miss the industrious Crystal Bradford. The forward provided sparks posting 12 points and had a game-high 18 rebounds in the Finals for her efforts.

Reem Moussa

However, a confident Mohamed has beefed up the squad with two new players in Cieara Delard and Shayla Cooper.

The tactician said before the teams departure for the show that he is not banking on any individual brilliance but team work to help  his side achieve its goal. This will be the key to making progress in the tournament.

"All my players going for this championship are important. Any one one of them can be my super star," Mohamed offered.

His parting shots after seeing ASC lift the zonal trophy was that the team will fly the region flag high in the Africa Championship.

Lightening never strikes twice, but ASC believes they can achieve in Maputo what they did in Dar es Salaam in their debut appearance. In only a few days, the reality will soon dawn.

FIBA