Your Weekly Dose of FIBA Africa Zone 4 News: The latest highlights and developments from prestigious tournaments such as the Gabon Cup, the Cameroon Cup, and the Elite Women's Final 4, where some of the best female basketball talents in Africa showcased their skills and competed for glory.
Last Updated on
April 4, 2024
Elango Mbotona
Staff Writer
The pursuit of the David Nzoubou and Albertine Owono Trophies, which kicked off on March 25th, 2024, concluded with a thrilling finale at the Gabon Basketball Cup 2024 held in the Lycée National Léon Mba arena in Libreville. Throughout the week-long event, the men’s and women’s categories showcased outstanding basketball skills, with over 20 games in each category.
In a highly anticipated matchup, defending champions Espoir BC de l’Estuaire faced off against Moanda Basketball for the coveted title in the men’s cup. The game went into overtime, with the score tied at 64-64 at the end of regular time.
Moanda Basketball, coming off the bench with renewed energy, emerged victorious in overtime, defeating Espoir BC with a score of 69-67 to claim the David Nzoubou Cup of Gabon.
Similarly, the Nzeng-Ayong Women’s Basketball team secured victory over the Mandji Jockers with a decisive score of 66-56, claiming the 2024 Albertine Owone Cup.
The Cameroon Basketball Cup tipped off on Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Douala, which marked the beginning of the quarterfinals for the women's category and the preliminary rounds for the men's.
The Daniel Battiston Foundation women's basketball team secured a commanding victory over the newcomers of Ecole de Basket with a dominant scoreline of 65-34. Despite Coach Alain Zedong's determined efforts, his team couldn't halt the Daniel Battiston Foundation's relentless attack. With a roster boasting top-tier talent in all positions, the Daniel Battiston Foundation poses a significant challenge to the women's basketball landscape in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, the University of Douala showcased its prowess in a nail-biting match, defeating the United Ladies by a slim margin. With this hard-fought victory, both the Daniel Battiston Foundation and the University of Douala have booked their spots in the upcoming semifinals. The date for these matches is yet to be announced.
In the men's preliminary matches, Bonaberi BC faced a surprising defeat against Moungo Zone Basketball, with a scoreline of 57-68. Despite this setback, the Abel Njewa-coached team managed to secure their spot in the next stage of the Cameroon Cup tournament. The Cameroon Cup always offers thrilling matchups, especially when two young teams from the Elite National Men's Championship clash.
In another intense encounter, the Douala Firebirds went head-to-head against Kadji Sports Academy in a closely contested game characterized by high-level skills and defensive plays. In a typical display of Cameroonian basketball, the Douala Firebirds narrowly lost to KSA by a decisive score of 58-59, highlighting their lack of experience in crucial moments. These matches marked the conclusion of the initial preliminary round.
The National Elite Women's Championship in Cameroon has reached its climax. From April 5th to the 7th, the first round of the Women's Final Four will be held at the multi-purpose sports complex in Yaoundé. Four teams will compete to determine Cameroon's champions.
Participating teams are:
- Daniel Battiston Foundation
- Overdose up Station
- FAP
- University of Douala
The five-time consecutive champions, Overdose Station, remain determined to represent Cameroon in the 2024 AWBL. Despite finishing 2nd in the regular season, they are still eyeing the championship title. Meanwhile, as mentioned earlier, the Daniel Battiston Foundation poses a significant threat.
They finished 1st in the regular season due to their unique style of play, and they boast a complete roster in every position on the court. This could intensify competition for other teams like FAP and the University of Douala.
