MAPUTO (Mozambique) - After eight days of intense competition in the FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women, Costa da Sol and Alexandria Sporting Club are the only teams left standing and will contest the Final of the tournament at the Pavilhao de Universidade Eduardo Mondlane on Saturday night.

The journey of the two teams to this stage has been similar, but with a few differences here and there.

Both teams suffered defeats in the Group Phase of the tournament.

Costa do Sol were beaten by tournament favourites Inter Clube, while Sporting Alexandria suffered a final group game defeat at the hands of Ferroviario de Maputo.

The two sides have risen from that adversity of the group stages and have managed to navigate their way to the tournament’s grand finale.

Costa do Sol seem to have peaked at the right time and if their victories against ASC Ville de Dakar in the Quarter-Finals and Ferroviário in the last four are anything to go by, then they could give their Egyptians opponents a tough final.

The Mozambican club have managed to get over their second half struggles and their reliance on forward Ingvild Mucauro's production. Center Vilma Covane stepped up with 11 points as Costa do Sol progressed to the last four.

Shooting guard Eleuteria Lhavanguane dropped 17 points in their Semi-Final victory over rivals and outgoing champions Ferroviario de Maputo on Friday. 

In their first ever continental final, however, Costa do Sol will need every player in the team’s rotation to perform their role effectively to make sure the trophy stays in Mozambique.

Costa do Sol will also rely on their sixth man, the fans, who sang and cheered them through their encounter against Ferroviário, to do the same again against their opponents.

Sporting Alexandria have exemplified how team basketball should be played at this tournament.

In every department they are solid from team captain and center Hagar Amer to point guard Cierra Dillard, the Egyptian champions are stacked with talent.

In their 100-82 dismantling of 2019 finalists Inter Club players like Shayla Cooper, who had eight points in the game, also made sure that Angolan center Cristina Martiquite did not do damage in the paint.

Shooting guard Norhan Ahmed was another key contributor for Sporting. Ahmed dropped 19 points in magnificent shooting display against Inter. 

So, in terms of talent available for both teams and selecting a winner, the form book leans towards Sporting Alexandria, but this is a final and anything can happen. The favourites can wilt away or they can live up to their billing, and of course the underdog can always spring surprise.

Whoever wins Saturday's 2022 FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women Final will be crowned African champions for the very first time in their basketball history.

FIBA