InterClube cautious ahead of Ferroviario de Maputo Semi-Final tie

LUANDA (FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women 2017) – Reigning African champions InterClube will be looking to qualify for their eighth straight Final when they take on Mozambican giants Ferroviario de Maputo in the second Semi-Final on Saturday at the ongoing FIBA Africa Champions Cup Women 2017.

In a repeat of last year's Final in Maputo, InterClube face a new-look Ferroviario de Maputo that has since beefed up in every department ready to challenge for their first African trophy. 

InterClube head coach Apolinario Paquete has admitted that this will be a difficult encounter and he knows this all too well following Ferroviario de Maputo's shock win over InterClube at the Zone 6 Qualifiers last month in Botswana. 

"It is going to be a difficult and competitive game. I took good lessons from that loss to Ferroviario de Maputo in Botswana and we hope that today, we shall be the best team and win," Paquette told FIBA.basketball

Ferroviario de Maputo will be looking to take InterClube point guard Italee Lucas out of the game and this role could fall to captain Ingvild Mucauro and Anabela Cossa, both scorers on the other end of the court and indeed such a matchup will make for good viewing. 

In the paint, Argentinian center Veronica Vega will be up against Ndidi Madu. 

South Sudanese forward Sarah Chan brings massive experience off the bench and when she comes up against Felizarda Jorge, it will be one for intellect and physical astuteness. 

Chan said, "This is a very difficult game but we shall try to do our best to correct our mistakes and hopefully we shall win the game."

FIBA