The Rwanda Energy Group team lost to Egypt’s Al Ahly, 93-68, in the final of the 2024 FIBA Women’s Basketball League Africa Qualifiers ( WBLA Zone V).
On November 2, REG lost their second consecutive Zone V final, but they still secured a place in Africa’s prestigious club women’s competition.
The 2024 champions of Rwanda, REG, had an unbeaten streak leading up to the final, where they faced the reigning Egyptian champion, Al Ahly.
The championship match at Amaan Indoor Sports Hall in Zanzibar was tightly contested in the first three quarters, 22-21, 17-17, and 25-22, leaving REG just four points behind.
However, in the final quarter, Nadine Mohamed Sayed Soliman Mohamed, the 2021 Afrobasket top scorer, along with experienced Raneem Elgedawy, took control of the game. They significantly outscored REG while limiting them to just eight points.
Al Ahly’s 29 points in the final quarter led to a decisive 93-68 victory. Sayed and Elgedawy, both named to the tournament’s best five, contributed 43 points to Al Ahly’s total. Sayed scored 23 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and provided 3 assists, while Elgedawy recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
REG’s scoring largely depended on three players: Destiney Philoxy, Morgan King, and Victoria Reynolds, who collectively scored 64 points, making up 94.1% of the team’s total.
DP had a game-high 25 points, King contributed 21, and Reynolds added 18, and it’s clear that a team can’t succeed relying solely on three scorers.
This defeat marks REG’s first loss under coach Julian Martinez since he took over in September 2024.
Meanwhile, APR, also representing Rwanda, secured third place, with Italee Lucas earning a top scorer award and a spot in the tournament’s best five.
Both Al Ahly and REG Women BBC will represent Zone V at the 2024 WBLA in Dakar.
Last season, Alexandria Sporting Club from Egypt won the title, while REG finished fourth.
