ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - If there's one thing we learned on Game Day 1 of the Abidjan 2025 showcase, it's that the event is full of talented individuals.
In no particular order, here are six players who left fans gobsmacked.
Elisabeth Balogun (Nigeria)
The two-time Olympian and two-time Women's AfroBasket champion got off to an early start in the 2025 Women's AfroBasket tournament by scoring the first basket to help Nigeria defeat Rwanda 92-47.
The 24-year-old was aggressive on both ends of the floor and justified her team-high 26:04 minutes on the floor with clinical plays and unparalleled discipline.
Balogun, who averaged 8.8 points in five major tournaments while playing for Nigeria, finished with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, and a 15 efficiency rating.
Ndioma Kane (Senegal)
Ever since Kane made her debut with the Senegalese national team at the 2024 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgium, the 6-foot-2 forward has needed no introduction.
On Saturday, July 26, she made her Women's AfroBasket debut in memorable fashion.
She paced Senegal with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and an assist, earning a 27 efficiency rating as the Lionesses slaughtered Guinea 92-48.
Laetitia Sahie (Cote d'Ivoire)
The pressure of winning their first home game ever? What pressure? That's the best way to describe Sahie's performance on the opening day of the 2025 Women's AfroBasket tournament.
She couldn't hide her joy at playing in front of their fans, which resulted in her having the best shooting night of any player, helping Côte d'Ivoire overcome Egypt 75-63.
Over the course of her 26:41 minutes on the floor, she shot 10-for-12 from the field, including 1-for-2 from deep, and finished with a game-high 23 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds.
Sokhna Ndiaye (Senegal)
If you haven't heard of Sokhna Ndiaye before, now's your chance to learn more about her. Credit must go to Senegal coach Otis Hughley Jr. for selecting a player that others didn't recognize as talented.
For a player who had never played for Senegal before, the 30-year-old Ndiaye must have worked extremely hard to earn her spot in the team's rotation.
Against Guinea, she shot 8-for-10 from the floor, finishing with 16 points and 4 rebounds in 18:20 minutes.
Victoria Macaulay (Nigeria)
Two-time Women's AfroBasket champion Victoria Macaulay made a strong comeback to the D'Tigresses' lineup, proving her worth as a starter.
Coming off the bench, the 6-foot-4 center dominated the paint, shooting 5-for-9 to finish with 13 points.
She grabbed three rebounds and dished out five assists. Macaulay, who also shot 1-for-2 from behind the arc, had an efficiency rating of 20.
Kariata Diaby (Cote d'Ivoire)
A household name in the EuroLeague Women, Diaby made a stylish comeback with the Côte d'Ivoire in her first game since 2017.
The 6-foot-4 center caused all sorts of trouble for Egypt's defense, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes.
FIBA