CAIRO (Egypt) - Al Ahly fans have brought a spark to the FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup 2019 with their singing and the players are enjoying every second of it.

On Tuesday, when they take on the defending champions Ferroviario de Maputo from Mozambique, it will be an opportunity to show that this is familiar territory and that they too want to please their families and friends. 

Ferroviario have been down that road and they know what it is like. Last year, when they won their first ever continental title, their fans were unstoppable and inspired them to top performances. The reverse is true for the Al Ahly fans this year. 

"AL AHLY FANS BELIEVE IN US AND THEY DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO DEFEAT US. THEY LOVE AL AHLY CLUB. THEY COME FROM ALL OVER EGYPT FROM DIFFERENT CITIES JUST TO COME SUPPORT US AND THEIR FAVORITE CLUB. WE HAVE TO APPRECIATE THAT AND HONOR THAT BY WINNING."- Elshaarawy

Speaking to FIBA.basketball, Al Ahly forward Hala Elshaarawy said, "I think that they [Ferroviario] are better than the two teams we have played because they are the defending champions and they have a system."

"They are also fast, I believe they can all score and they have good shooters so we have to be ready and we have to have some energy because they can run the floor pretty well. I believe in my team and I know that we will play hard and do our best to finish top of our group."

Ferroviario de Maputo on the other hand are wary of playing a home side but they know that to remain at the top, they have to overcome every challenge in their way.  

 Mucauro in action against CNSS

"We know that this is a very difficult game because Al Ahly have good players but we are ready for this challenge. We want to win the trophy again. It is a good feeling. To do that, we have to beat all the teams," Ferroviario Captain Ingvild Mucauro explained. 

Elshaarawy mentioned that, "Al Ahly fans believe in us and they do not want anyone to defeat us. They love Al Ahly club. They come from all over Egypt from different cities just to come support us and their favorite club. We have to appreciate that and honor that by winning."

The top of the table clash will determine who takes up the top spot in Group B ahead of the Quarter-Finals that start on Wednesday. 

Meanwhile, hosts Sporting will be up against MFM Queens in what is expected to be a tough Group A encounter that will bring out the best in the two teams. 

Amr Ashour's side will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to InterClube in a very closely contested game and against the Nigerian outfit MFM Queens, they will come up against a stubborn side. 

The shooting matchup between Asrar Bakr and Ifunanya Okoro will make for good viewing while the paint will not be short of action as Shawnta Dyer takes on Juliet Chinyere. 

FAP from Cameroon, who are winless in two games, are desperate to find their winning feet when they take on CNSS from Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Five-time record champions InterClube commence the action against Benin's Energie with the latter hoping to pick their first win at the tournament but they face a toll order. 

FIBA