DAKAR (Senegal) - Hosts Senegal booked a date with Mozambique in the Semi-Finals scheduled for Friday at the ongoing FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2019 at the magnificent Dakar Arena. 

Astou Traore dropped a game-high 16 points against Angola to guide Senegal to a third consecutive final four at the continental showpiece as they continue seeking to attain their objective of winning the title at home. 

Yacine Diop and veteran Mame-Marie Sy- Diop added 14 and 12 points in that order while Lala Wane registered 10 points to earn Senegal a place at the high table. 

 Angola, who won the African title in 2011 and 2013, will have to wait for yet another edition to go back to the top of African women's basketball. 

Meanwhile, forward Leia Dongue scored a game-high 25 points and picked nine rebounds in a woman-of-the-match performance that inspired Mozambique past Egypt 80-66.

Dongue asked too many questions that the Egyptian forwards failed to answer and she turned on the party in the paint - basket after basket to give her side a deserved victory especially after dependable shooting guard Anabela Cossa failed a late fitness test after an old back injury got worse on Wednesday. 

Dongue celebrates with her teammates

Ingvild Macauro and Elizabeth Pereira scored 16 and 12 points respectively to further affirm why Mozambique is among the top four best teams in Africa. Delma Zita picked eight rebounds. 

Egypt's Soraya Degheidy did everything within her means to lead her team to the Promised Land scoring a team-best 17 points but not even Reem Moussa's 12 points or Raneem Elgedawy's 11 points was enough to save their title dreams. 

Defending champions Nigeria will face their biggest test at this tournament when they take on a fellow title contender in Mali. Nigeria defeated Democratic Republic of Congo 79-46 in the first Quarter-Final of the day.

D'Tigress have point guard Ezinne Kalu to thank for sinking 17 points while Victoria Macaulay and captain Adaora Elonu posted 14 and 11 points in that order to give the Congolese no chance whatsoever to emerge winners. 

A 22-9 lead at the end of the first quarter showcased Nigeria's intent from the onset and the rest was history. When Nigeria realised that the Congolese guards were unable to bring down the ball comfortably on their left, they took them on a full court press which worked. 

Nigeria made a total of 18 steals scoring 35 points from Congolese turnovers to punish them but most notably experience came into play at this level with D'Tigress limiting Congolese forward Chanel Mokango to just two points. 

Ginette Mfutila and Mireille Muganza Nyota scored 15 and 10 points respectively but their efforts were far from helping the Congolese make the Semi-Finals for the first time since 1997. 

Elsewhere, Mali dominated the West African derby edging Cote d'Ivoire 60-51 to maintain an unbeaten run in this competition courtesy of Touty Gandega who netted 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

Gandega was very key for Mali today

Mariam Coulibaly played a key role in this tie picking 12 rebounds and scoring seven points while her teammates Meiya Tirera and Djeneba N'Diaye added 14 and 13 points to win this game in the paint. 

The Malian defence was very solid limiting the tournament's highest points scorer Djeferima Diawarra to just six points and six rebounds even though this could have come at a cost as Mali lost Nassira Traore to an ejection after two un-sportsmanlike fouls.

Kani Kouyate managed 15 points while her senior sister Mariama Kouyate and Mariam Gnanou registered 10 points each but Alpha Mane's side was so close yet so far in a game of slight margins. 

Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal have automatically qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics pre-qualifying tournament that is scheduled to be played in November. 

FIBA