Sporting stuns hosts Club African, Kano Pillars pulls out of 2014 African Champions Cup
TUNIS (African Champions Cup) - Makram Ben Romdhane was crucial in helping Egyptian side Sporting Alexandria stun hosts Club Africain on Day 2 of Group A action at the 2014 African Champions Cup (ACC), in
TUNIS (African Champions Cup) - Makram Ben Romdhane was crucial in helping Egyptian side Sporting Alexandria stun hosts Club Africain on Day 2 of Group A action at the 2014 African Champions Cup (ACC), in Tunis, Tunisia.
Ben Romdhane, a Tunisian international, came off the bench to score a game-high 16 points in Friday's 68-66 victory.
Hamdi Braa, another Tunisian featuring for Sporting (1-0), had 13 points, and Egyptian rising start Youssef Shousha - who made his world stage debut at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup - contributed 12 for the Egyptians, who finished fourth in last year's ACC.
The win marks Sporting's debut in this year's event, while Club Africain (1-1) dropped its first loss in two games.
Early on Friday, FIBA Africa confirmed the withdrawal of Nigerian champions Kano Pillars, who failed to achieve direct qualification in Africa Zone 3 qualifier held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, but received a wild card invitation.
Media reports suggested the Nigerians, who had been drawn in Group A, lacked funding to take part in Africa's only club competition.
As result of Kano Pillar's withdrawal, Equatorial Guinean side Malabo Kings won by forfeit to improve to 2-0.
After suffering a shocking defeat to Malabo Kings in the tournament opener, Angolan champions Recreativo do Libolo (1-1) trounced BC Mayotte 89-56. The Mahorans dropped to 0-2.
In Group B's first game of the day, reigning champions Primeiro D'Agosto edged out Nigerian Mark Mentors 88-74 and improved their record to 2-0.
D'Agosto's new signing Steve Briggs sparked the Angolans with a game-best 17 points, while Abdul Yahaya's 15 points were not enough to give Mark Mentors (1-1) its second win.
On Saturday, Mark Mentors will take on Tunisians ES Rades, who sealed their second win on Friday following a 72-70 defeat of Cote d’Ivoire's Abidjan Basket Club (0-2).
The Ivorians, who will square off against US Monastir on Saturday are yet to seal its first victory after win a two games.
US Monastir (1-1) improved to 1-1 following a 68-54 win over ASB Mazembe (0-1) from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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