ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - The dynamic landscape of women's basketball in Africa has time and again delivered unexpected triumphs and upsets that captivate fans and reshape tournament narratives.
From underdog teams defying the odds to seasoned favorites faltering, here are five Women's AfroBasket games from the last two editions whose results defied expectations.
Uganda vs. Senegal
In Group C of the 2023 competition, Uganda, who had qualified with a wildcard, faced record champions Senegal, who had advanced to the semifinals in the previous edition. Uganda won with a final score of 85-83.
Under coach Alberto Antuna, the East Africans dominated the boards with 59 rebounds, 19 more than the Senegalese side.
Jannon Otto's 21 points and Jane Asinde's 20 points secured Uganda's victory and a favorable draw in the round of 16 after they finished second to Mali in the group stage.
The 11-time champions lost both group games but bounced back against Egypt, Cameroon, and Mali to reach the final.
Rwanda vs. Ivory Coast
With Rwanda making a return to the continental competition for the first time, since back-to-back ninth-place finishes in 2009 and 2011, the new generation of players announced themselves on the African scene with a 64-35 victory over this year’s host, Côted’Ivoire.
Contrary to the Rwandese, who had fallen in the qualifiers in the previous five editions before making it as hosts, the West Africans had missed once, in 2013.
Destiney Promise Philoxy, on debut for the East Africans, led the charge, scoring 18, seven more than another revelation, Janai Crooms Robertson, as Rwanda opened their campaign, in Group A, enroute a fourth-place finish.
Angola vs. Guinea
Two-time champions Angola went up against 1966 silver medalists Guinea in the round of 16, falling 71-69 to miss out on the quarters.
The Southern Africans were favourites, having reached the Last Eight in 2021, up against a Guinean side that finished last on a 0-3 show.
Power forward Masseny Kaba, in her second Women’s AfroBasket assignment, was tormentor-in-chief against Angola. She contributed a double-double on 26 points and 14 rebounds as Guinea came from behind for a 26-16 final quarter to claim the hard-fought victory, and reach the quarters for the first time since 1994.
Mozambique vs. Cameroon
Coming into the 2023 edition as reigning bronze medalists put Cameroon on a pedestal, but on meeting three-time silver medalist Mozambique in the fifth-place match, they lost 74-65.
The signs had, however, been there prior, as the two sides clashed in the Group Phase, the southern African nation, Mozambique lost the game by a basket (55-53), and were forced to go through the round of 16 to reach the quarters, going on to finish fifth for the second edition in a row.
Senegal vs. Mali
Over the years, Senegal and Mali have faced each other countless times, sharing wins and losses without one team being superior to the other.
Who could forget Mali's upset victory over hosts Senegal in Dakar in 2007, when they won their only Women's AfroBasket title with a score of 65-58?
On the two occasions (2011 and 2017) that Mali hosted the tournament, Senegal finished second and Mali finished third.
And who could forget the 2009 Women's AfroBasket final, when Senegal took home the gold medal by beating Mali 72–57 in Madagascar?
These examples illustrate one of the most intriguing matchups in Women's AfroBasket in recent years.
So, when Mali demolished Senegal 72–49 in Kigali, Rwanda, two years ago, it was the largest winning margin for either team, a surprising result.
FIBA