Sporting Alexandria crowned 2022 Africa Champions Cup Women winners

 

MAPUTO (Mozambique) - Alexandria Sporting Club made history for Egypt and the club by becoming the first team to be crowned champions of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women on Saturday at the Pavilhao de Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo after beating Costa do Sol 65-58 in the final.

A game-high 21 points from guard Cierra Dillard and 18 points from center Hagar Amer helped to get the job done for the Egyptians.

Sporting's Hagar Ahmed was 3 for 3 from behind the arc on her way to 16 points, while Nilza Chiziane made five of seven shots to finish the half with 10 points for Costa do Sol.

In the second half, Sporting maintained their composure, even when Costa tried in vain to make a run at them during the game's final minutes.

TURNING POINT: Sporting chased the game for most of the first and second quarters, and a little into the third, the Egyptians tied the game 43-43 with two minutes gone. From that point, the Egyptians never looked back.

HERO: Cierra Dillard was again the hero for the Egyptians, and the championship game of her life by dropping 21 points on a 8 for 12 shooting.

STATS DON'T LIE: Sporting forced Costa do Sol to turn the ball over 21 times, and the Egyptians scored 23 points.

BOTTOM LINE: Sporting's ability to create scoring opportunities and force Costa into committing errors was the difference in this final.

WHAT THEY SAID: "I am the happiest man in the world. It is the first time an Egyptian team has won this title. I think the best we have done is a bronze medal at this level. I don't know what else to say, and I don't know what is going through the minds of girls right now." -  Sporting Alexandria head coach Mohamed Abdelrahman.

"I am overwhelmed. It's a dream come true for myself and the team. We have worked hard to get here. We have reached our goal. I am truly thankful." -  Tournament MVP and Sporting captain Hagar Amer, who scored 18 points in the final.

"I am feeling great. I am grateful to be on this team. I am thankful for representing Egypt in this beautiful country." Sporting Alexandria's guard Cierra Dillard.

"Things did not go our way. We were not calm in certain situations and did not have a sense of urgency in critical parts of the game. Congratulations to sporting. I am also proud of my team" - Costa do Sol forward Ingvild Mucauro.

FERROVIARIO DE MAPUTO CLAIM THIRD PLACE 

In the third and fourth place match, Ferroviario de Maputo beat Inter Clube 71-67 to take the bragging rights and the bronze medal.

Dulce Mabjaia's 20 points and her teammates, Silvia Veloso (14), Chelsey Shumpert (13) and Caitlin Jenkins (12), ensured Ferroviario finished the year with something to cheer about at the end.

Inter's top score was centre Cristina Matiquite with 18 points, while Alexis Tolefree (13), Rosa Gala (11) and team captain Nadir Manuel's (10) contributions were not enough to see Inter get a medal.

Inter and Ferroviario would have wanted a repeat of the final of 2019, contested by both teams, but this year they had to settle for who would get the last medal on the podium.

The game was electric nonetheless, as the two sides gave the crowd on hand a nail-biter. The first half saw the railway club Ferroviario take a 32-31 lead. Inters Martiquite led the scoring with 10 points in the game.

In the second half, with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, a three-pointer from Mabjaia and a jump shot from Shumpert gave Ferroviario the four-point victory.

FINA STANDINGS OF THE 2022 FIBA AFRICA CHAMPIONS CUP WOMEN

1. Sporting Alexandria (Egypt) 5-1
2. Costa do Sol (Mozambique) 5-2 
3. Ferroviario de Maputo (Mozambique) 5-1
4. Interclube (Angola) 5-2
5. ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal) 3-3
6. Kenya Ports Authority (Kenya) 2-5
7. C.N.S.S (DR Congo) 2-5
8. APR (Rwanda) 0-6
9. Energie BBC (Benin) 0-4
10. Overdose Up Station * (pulled out)

FIBA