ALEXANDRIA (Egypt) – Defending champion Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) won the elite women’s club competition held within its walls last year, and has a target on its back as it heads to the Marius Ndiaye Arena in Dakar, Senegal.
The team is aiming for a third consecutive African title, having won the competition in 2022 before it was renamed the AWBL, then the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA).
QUALIFYING FOR THE WBLA 2024
Egypt’s silver medalists were given a direct ticket to this year’s competition, meaning they did not participate in qualifying last month.
Last year, ASC won the African title in front of their home crowd, beating Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 103-59 and finishing the competition undefeated.
Two of its players, Cierra Dillard, who was crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP), and Hagar Amer (2023 MVP) were part of the tournament’s typical team. However, they will miss the 2024 championship with the new version of the ASC.
KEY PLAYERS
The team made seven changes from the 2023 roster.
Led by the American Lianna Tillman, the new team also includes Kristen Spolyar, who played until October for Hatillo, in Puerto Rico, and the Nigerian Ifunanya Okoro, who wore the colors of Kenya Ports Authority during the African competition of 2022, on the All-Star team.
Egyptians Hala Mustafa, Malak Noaman, Aya Elfiqi and Haya Abdelal complete the list of new recruits who hope to propel the team to another African title.
NATIONAL TEAM PLAYERS
Led by 26-year-old Asraf Maged, the ASC has no shortage of talented players who have represented their country at international level.
Other players include Hala Mustafa, Nourhan Ahmed, who was part of the ASC champion team in the last two editions, Nour Ali (3×3), Aya Elfiqi and Haya Abdelal, who also participated in the AfroBasket for under-18s. Nigeria’s Okoro was also part of the dominant national team and competed at the Paris Olympics this year.
YEAR OF CREATION AND OWNERSHIP
The team was established in 1890 and is one of the oldest Egyptian and African clubs. The president is Mr. Ahmed Hassan.
COACH
Coach Amr Assem is highly qualified. He was an assistant coach for the Egyptian national team during the 2019 Women’s AfroBasket. He also coached the U23 3×3 national team.
HOME GAMES
ASC plays in the 16-team Egyptian League and plays its home matches in the ASC hall that hosted last year’s event in Alexandria.
FIBA
