Asc Ville de Dakar yesterday qualified for the semi-finals of the African Club Championship, winning after extra time against Reg of Rwanda (61-57). As a result, the “Dakaroises” find, this afternoon, Al Ahly of Egypt. In the other semi-final, we will be treated to the duel between Ferroviario from Mozambique and Apr from Rwanda.By Woury DIALLO –
The adventure continues for the host club of the African Club Championship which is currently being played in Dakar, at the Marius Ndiaye Stadium. The Municipality club finally managed to overthrow the Reg of Rwanda in a match during which the Dakaroises were dominated almost the entire game.
It is finally in the last quarter that Elisabeth Dabou Kamite’s gang (16 pts, 10 rebs) will find the necessary resources to get their ticket to the last four.
However, things got complicated for the Senegal champions from the start. Dominated on offensive and defensive rebounds, the Couna Ndao gang conceded a false start, with only four small points during the first five minutes of play. And it is logical that the Girls of Tapha Gaye lose the first quarter, with a gap of 10 points (8-18).
The second will be of better quality, especially with the entry of Fatou Babou Diagne. Reduced due to an ankle injury, his entry in the last two minutes will allow the Municipality club to return to the match and bring the score to 19-28 at the break.
Without much conviction in the game and multiplying blunders in attack, the Dakaroises fell back into their mistakes during the third quarter (35-48).
From hell to heaven
With a comfortable lead of 13 points, the Rwandans started the last quarter in the best conditions. Especially since, opposite, coach Tapha will have difficulty finding the right formula to get his players back into the right tempo.
Nevertheless, with good defensive aggressiveness and all-terrain pressing, Asc Ville de Dakar will return to the match until getting back to 3 points (48-51) at 4.18, before equalizing (51-51) at 3.36 .
The match then takes another turn. The last two minutes will be electric. Thanks to the public support of Marius Ndiaye, the Municipality club will believe in it until the end to win overtime (55-55) thanks to a better team.
Returning from hell, the “Dakaroises” will go in front (59-55 at 2.54) for the first time in this match, before ending up winning by four points (61-57).
Quarter-finalist during the previous edition, the Municipality club therefore does better with this qualification in the semi-final, where it will meet Al Ahly of Egypt who confirmed their supremacy by eliminating the Congolese of Cnss. The Ndioma Kane gang having taken a stroll, not to say a walk in the park (89-36).
Considered the favorites for the title, the Egyptians folded the match in the first quarter (27-5), before hammering home the point in the second (52-15). The last ones will only be a sort of formality: 73-23 in the third quarter to finally finish with 53 points difference (89-36).
Ferroviario-Apr for the 2nd semi-final
In the other match, the Apr team from Rwanda won against the Friend’s Basketball Association from Côte d’Ivoire (59-49).
Last minute invitee, Joan of Arc did not achieve the feat in front of Ferroviario of Mozambique.
An elimination of the “Old Lady” which is necessarily not a surprise.
The semi-finals are scheduled for this afternoon, still at the Marius Ndiaye Stadium, with the program: Al Ahly-Ascvd at 6 p.m. and Ferroviario-Apr at 9 p.m.
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