African U18 Women's Championship 2022: Game Day 1 Breakdown

African U18 Women's Championship 2022: Game Day 1 Breakdown

The African U18 Women's Championship began yesterday, August 5th, 2022, in Antsirabe, Madagascar with competition favourites, Mali and Egypt confirming their intentions against Algeria and Guinea respectively.

Defending champions, Mali made it clear that Group A's top spot belonged to no one else, putting on a defensive clinic with 23 steals and 23 defensive rebounds. Although the Algerians lost by 100 points (24 - 124), they never lowered their heads.

Led by future star Maimouna Haidara and her 27-point and 11-rebound double-double, the Malians conceded only nine points during the 1st quarter and one basket in the 2nd quarter to lead the half 54 - 9.

They returned from the locker room determined to continue their run, and it was more of the same, with Algeria only doing very little to stop the onslaught (33 - 12).

In the second game, Guinea faced a spirited Egypt squad emphatically demonstrating that Egypt is in the business of winning, as six players achieved double-digit scoring.

Jana Salllman and Tamara Ibrahim 12 points, Jana Elshamy 15 points, Maya Ahmed and Jana Ahmed 10 points and Jana Elalfy earned a double-double.

With 29 points and 10 rebounds, Elalfy was lighting up the floor on both ends and Guinea had no way of shutting her down. They yielded to the Egyptian pharaohs 111 - 38 and it wasn’t pretty.

We see Egypt again on Sunday 7th August where they take on Tanzania while Mali faces Uganda.

[Image/Photography Credit: FIBA]