African Women's Basketball League Game Recap: CNSS vs Customs

Customs Seals Quarter-Final Berth with Victory in Last Group Game

In the final group game of day five in the Africa Women's Basketball League, both teams, assigned to Group A, aimed for success. Congolese champions CNSS had hoped to secure at least one victory in the preliminary stage against the Nigerian Customs, but their plans did not unfold as anticipated.

Customs swiftly reached a double-digit score, outpacing CNSS, who struggled to find their rhythm, with Kokolo Longomo missing more than three long-range shots. Additionally, CNSS faced early foul trouble in the first period, granting Customs a four-minute advantage at the free-throw line. Nevertheless, CNSS responded with a full-court press that caused difficulties for Customs, making it challenging for them to secure baskets.

Then, both teams started settling their differences at the three point line which brought CNSS one point to tie against Customs with only less than one minutes to go in the first half. Ayenga gave CNSS the lead for the first time by 1 point with a layup sending both teams to the locker-room 33-32.

CNSS blew out the lead with a lot of mistakes committed and a lose defence which made it easy for Customs to take the lead scoring easy baskets as a result of CNSS’ poor defence. Nevertheless, they kept coming back by two or three point’s still with their full court press strategy. CNSS of course were in search of their first win in the AWBL and at the end of the third they were both tied up with 45 points each. A decisive game that determined who will finish at the bottom of group A, played defensively on both side.

However they limited their mistakes and played 2 points at a time but Taiwo found it less interesting as she shot back to back threes to give Customs a five point lead with only two minutes to play. Customs kept increasing the lead and Olaoluatomi Taiwo was exceptional helping her team send CNSS back home without a group-stage victory. She put up 24 points whilst Custom's queen of double-double Nkem Akaraiwe scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to secure the win, 57-66.

On the Congolese side they put in a lot of effort not to leave the group stage empty handed. They succeded to have two players in double digits Gracia Nguz 11points and Evodie Lubata 12 points yet all efforts combined were insufficient against the Nigerian Customs.