Egypt set up date with Mali in Final

CAIRO (Egypt) - Senegal recorded their first victory at the ongoing FIBA U18 Women's African Championship 67-64 on Tuesday but their efforts were not enough to qualify for the Final ahead of Egypt. 

For the first time since this tournament started, Senegal were trailing at the end of the first quarter 17-25 as the Egyptians run the floor to dominate the game. 

Senegal turned up the heat in the second quarter and by half time had forced Egypt into 15 turnovers and with 22 team rebounds, Senegal led by two points 35-33 at the break. Both teams fought hard on defense in very tense circumstances. 

Fanta Gassama picked eight rebounds and made four points for Senegal

Egypt center and captain Yara Hussein, who had to take painkillers to stop the pain in her knees, scored 10 of her 12 points and picked eight of her 13 rebounds in the second half playing a crucial role in her side's fight in the two periods. 

Senegal were relentless and forced overtime when the buzzer went off with the score at 61-up. Senegal opened a five-point lead in the opening one minute and a half but lost concentration thereafter. 

They won the game but needed to win by seven points to qualify for the Final. 

"We are proud of the way we played today and the improvement we have made all tournament. We were playing together for the very first time but we shall take the progress. It was a tough game against the hosts and we gave everything," Faye told FIBA.basketball after the game. 

Hosts Egypt will now take on Mali in the Final on Wednesday. 

FIBA