ABIDJAN (Côte d’Ivoire) – With only one game left in the group stage, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, and Mali have joined Cameroon as the only remaining undefeated teams.
All four of these teams are now 2-0 ahead of their final group stage games on Sunday and Monday.
Here's a look back at how things evolved in Saturday's games in Abidjan.
Côte d'Ivoire's high-scoring streak continued in Group A
Côte d'Ivoire continued their perfect start at home, easily defeating Uganda 80-44 to secure a second consecutive win and sole leadership of Group A.
The hosts pulled away in the third quarter and comfortably closed out the game in the fourth to seal the victory.
This result puts Côte d'Ivoire at 2-0 in Group A, solidifying their status as the team to beat on home soil after their emphatic 102-13 opening-night rout. Meanwhile, Uganda will need to regroup as they search for their first points in the group standings.
Marlyne Adahe was the driving force for Côte d'Ivoire, posting a 26 efficiency rating with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, and 5 steals.
Fatima Diouf also had a strong performance, scoring a game-high 30 points and adding 6 rebounds and 5 steals. Jane Mary Diamonde added 10 points.
For Uganda, Rose Musundu was the bright spot. She played 32 minutes and 57 seconds, leading her side with 17 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
Reflecting on her big performance, Diouf spoke about the sacrifices she made for her success: "Leaving my family and moving to the US was not easy. I need to work hard and make everyone proud. As a team, we want Côte d'Ivoire to win this AfroBasket and advance to the World Cup."
Musundu, for her part, was gracious in defeat. She noted that losing was never the plan, but that the problem was due to their defense and the ball not dropping into the basket. We planned to win, but it didn’t happen.”
What's next?
Côte d'Ivoire has 4 points from two wins and will try to maintain their undefeated streak as they push for the top spot in Group A. Meanwhile, Uganda has 3 points from one win and one loss and will try to secure their first tournament win. Kenya also has three points from one win and one loss, and CAF sits in fourth place.
Benin was no match for Egypt
Egypt remained undefeated in Group B, blowing out Benin 94-48. They secured the 46-point victory by playing stifling defense in the second and third quarters.
Egypt's size advantage was on full display, as the team scored 56 points in the paint and 12 second-chance points. The team disrupted Benin all night, forcing 38 turnovers and 23 steals.
Yasmin Ahmed led all scorers with 17 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists. Mariam Elshenawy added 12 points, and Leila Eissa and Sedra Elshafey each finished with 11.
For Benin, captain Stivine Tchiakpe was the lone bright spot, recording a double-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists in a losing effort.
After the match, Fatma Abdella reflected on the team's preparation for the tournament: "We worked hard for this tournament and want to win it."
Benin's Constantine N'tcha praised her team's improved performance, yet stressed the need for more exposure at this level to help them close the gap in the near future. "In our first game against Mali, we knew we were playing against the champions, which unsettled us. But against Egypt, we came out fighting. They are just better than us right now. This is a valuable experience that will stay with me for a long time. I hope that, as a team, we continue to improve."
Mali blow out Morocco
In their second Group B fixture, Mali put on a dominant display against Morocco, cruising to a lopsided 103-30 victory.
Mali set the tone from the opening whistle, refusing to let Morocco get into a rhythm.
The quarter-by-quarter breakdown illustrated a clear mismatch: 22-11, 21-5, 33-7, and 27-7. Mali's surge in the third quarter, 33-7, was particularly telling as they pulled away from a Morocco side that simply had no answers.
Coach Diakite Sory's determined Mali team kept the pressure on Morocco from start to finish with a full-court press, forcing Morocco onto the defensive the entire game.
The result puts Mali at 2-0 in Group B, tying Egypt's perfect record so far in the tournament.
Suzanne Dembele was the standout performer for Mali, torching Morocco's defense for a game-high 28 points. She was well supported by Hiba Zouhi, who added 11 points as Mali's offense fired on all cylinders throughout the game.
After the game, Mali's Assan Bagnine Mariko credited the team's preparation for the emphatic win. "The truth is that we put in a lot of work, and you saw the result on the court. We will keep going until we achieve our goal," she said.
For Morocco, the outcome was a bitter disappointment. Malak Ayash Ahmed reflected on a night that didn't go as planned. "We were determined to perform well here, but it hasn't turned out the way we had hoped," she said.
Mali continues to assert itself as one of the teams to watch in this year's tournament with the win, while Morocco will regroup as they aim to bounce back in their remaining group games.
FIBA