BRAZZAVILLE (Congo) - The experienced Democratic Republic of the Congo side, CNSS — one of the most consistent competitors in Africa — along with compatriots Hatari Basketball and Cameroon's Forces Armées et Police (FAP), got their campaigns off to a winning start.
Here's how the day's action unfolded:
ASB Hatari silence Anges Noirs Bantous
Home side Anges Noirs Bantous (ANBC) had nothing on ASB Hatari who got their group A fight off to a 93-33 dominance anchored by Nelma Cunha on offense while Dede Alima Saliboko led their defense.
Muamba Ilunga's Hatari went on a 23-2 run in the opening eight minutes of the first quarter. ANBC's sole basket came from Michel La Breche Edengele with 8:45 to play, getting action going before Anna Kitenge Maluza shot from deep to grab the lead for Hatari, and there was no looking back.
The hosts recovered, to trail 25-11 after the first period, but only momentarily as they were held 15-3 in the second quarter to carry a 26-point (40-14) deficit to the second half, eventually losing by 60 as they were dominated on all fronts.
Cunha scored 19 points in just over 14 minutes. Magda Mussol contributed 16, one more than Maluza while Rhema Tshoto added 13, missing out on a double-double by a whisker after picking nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Saliboko, who pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds came a point short of a double-double.
Damaris Emedie powers FAP past Charbo Squad
Cameroon centre Damaris Emedie stayed solid on both ends, scoring 17 points, with a 7-of-16 shooting from inside and added 22 rebounds, 17 on defense, to lead FAP to a 65-49 win.
She was the only player to hit a double-double, combining with Malian Bintou Dramé (15) and Josiane Feumba (11) for two thirds of the side's points.
The Ange Majolie Lonteu-led side came from behind after trailing 14-12 against the Gabon team in the first quarter, playing for a 22-14 second quarter, with a 6-0 run in the final two minutes to lead 34-28 at halftime.
A dominant 22-5 third quarter all but sealed the win for FAP as a 16-9 comeback attempt by the Gabonese was not enough to overturn the result.
FAP's 32-18 dominance on the paint proved crucial as Charbo Squad, who had Badiallo Dicko (15) and Bata Hamel (10), leading their offense, matched the Cameroonian military side on all other fronts.
CNSS pull biggest win of the qualifiers over Interclub
CNSS picked the biggest win of the 2026 qualifiers yet, seeing off home side Interclub 106-28, a massive 78-point victory that puts them at the helm of Group B in the Zone 4 qualifiers.
With each of coach Ravane Khonde Mwimba's 12 players playing at least eight minutes and scoring two or more points, the victory was a team effort that saw five players scored in double digits.
Djelika Tounkara came off the bench to lead the offense, scoring 21 in just under 19 minutes, Diouma Berthe (14), Deborah Kaba Mayimona (14), Talita Kimbembi (12) and Gemina Mabwa (12) making the biggest contributions. Mayimona came a rebound short of a double-double. Interclub's Vuaya Ariane
Makanguila was a breath of fresh air for the side as she scored more than half of her side's 28 points, with 17.
Interclub scored just two baskets in the opening quarter, three in the second, four in the third and one in the final stanza, a 10-of-27 from inside, with no single trey in 16 attempts.
It was no surprise that CNSS dominated on all fronts, including a 62-5 contribution from either bench.
FIBA