ASC Ville de Dakar Triumphs on Home-Court in WBLA Opener

ASC Ville de Dakar Triumphs on Home-Court in WBLA Opener

The electrifying atmosphere at the Marius Ndiaye Arena set the stage for a thrilling encounter as Senegal’s ASC Ville de Dakar faced Cameroon's FAP in the opener of the 2024 Women's Basketball League Africa (WBLA). Backed by a raucous home crowd, ASC Ville de Dakar clawed their way to a narrow 57-54 victory, marking a triumphant start to their campaign in Group A.

The game was a battle of contrasting halves. FAP came out strong, controlling the tempo and taking an early lead with efficient ball movement and solid defensive plays. By halftime, the visitors looked poised for victory, but the momentum shifted dramatically in the second half. Coach Moustapha Gaye's adjustments, coupled with unrelenting support from the home fans, sparked a spirited comeback from ASC Ville de Dakar.

The third quarter proved pivotal for ASC. Trailing by a significant margin, they mounted an impressive run to close the gap to 37-36 with just 40 seconds left in the quarter. A clutch basket by Elisabeth Dabou gave the home side a lead, swinging the momentum firmly in their favor. Although an unsportsmanlike foul briefly allowed FAP to tie the game at 38 heading into the final quarter, the tide had clearly turned.

FAP seemed to regain control early in the fourth quarter, stretching their lead to 51-41. However, ASC responded with a game-defining 16-3 run in the final five minutes. Foune Sissoko's critical basket sealed the deal, ensuring ASC emerged victorious in a tightly contested matchup.

Malian stars Elisabeth Dabou and Foune Sissoko were instrumental in ASC’s comeback. Dabou led the team with 13 points, falling just one rebound shy of a double-double, while Sissoko also contributed 13 points. Their relentless efforts, especially in the third quarter, kept ASC within striking distance and ultimately pushed them over the line.

ASC capitalized on FAP’s mistakes, scoring 10 of their first-half points off the visitors' 17 turnovers. Dominance in the paint (36-22) and fast-break points (18-3) further highlighted ASC’s superiority in crucial areas. Despite leading for just over four minutes in the entire game, ASC's efficient second-half execution proved decisive.

ASC Ville de Dakar’s win keeps them in contention in Group A and continues the tradition of home teams thriving in their groups. With four previous WBLA winners emerging from the host city, the pressure is on ASC to maintain the streak. Their next test will be against Mountain of Fire Miracles.

For FAP, regrouping quickly will be crucial as they face Zone Five champions Ahly on December 8. Their resilience will be tested as they seek to bounce back from this narrow defeat.

I was expecting this kind of competition. It is an African event and never easy. We tried to play a quick game in the first quarter but adjusted to our strengths in the second half which worked. We played their game hence the close encounter but we will adjust going forward. We prepared well, played some friendly matches against some strong sides, including men's teams but this is a different level of competition and the first match has helped us see areas that need to improve before the next encounter.

Moustapha Gaye, head coach ASC voiced out.

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[Photography/Imagery : Courtesy of FIBA]

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