A narrow victory in Cairo has preserved Nigeria’s slim chances of advancing further in the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA), following a gritty 58–52 success against Cameroon’s FAP, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Played at high intensity from start to finish, the encounter swung back and forth with 13 changes in momentum and was not resolved until the final moments. The result marked an encouraging outing for the Nigerian side, who are back on the continental stage after a six-year absence.
Young guard Wandoo Hembam once again rose to the occasion, providing a spark from the bench. The 19-year-old led the scoring with 12 points, while also delivering five assists and pulling down two rebounds. She converted three shots from long range, helping her team finish the group phase with one win from three outings, as FAP brought their campaign to a close without a single victory.
The opening two quarters reflected the tense nature of the contest, with both sides struggling to establish any offensive flow. FAP narrowly claimed the first period 14–13, but the Nigerians responded before the interval to ensure the teams headed into the break tied at 26 points apiece.
Little separated the teams in the third quarter, where turnovers, fouls and missed scoring chances disrupted the rhythm of play. A brief surge late in the period allowed the Cameroonian side to edge ahead 40–38 entering the final quarter.
With progression on the line, urgency defined the closing stretch. Theresa Anya drew the scores level at 52 with just over two minutes remaining, before an assist from Hembam set up the basket that restored the lead with 1:59 left.
Moments later, the teenage guard struck decisively, receiving a pass from Abigail Isaac and drilling a three-pointer that pushed the margin to 57–52. FAP were unable to respond, and the game slipped out of their reach.
Efficiency in forcing and punishing errors proved crucial, as the Nigerians scored 20 points from turnovers compared to FAP’s 11. While the Cameroonian side enjoyed more success on fast breaks and second-chance opportunities, the difference came in execution during key moments.
Tobiloba Ogedengbe was outstanding at the defensive end, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds, while FAP’s veteran forward Nkem Akaraiwe topped her team’s effort with 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
After the final whistle, Hembam — who featured in last season’s tournament with MFM and was recently ranked among AfricaBasket’s top five point guards — admitted the team found its footing late but said her focus was firmly on helping her side move forward.
All eyes now turn to other group results, as the Nigerians await confirmation on whether their hard-earned win will be enough to secure a place in the next phase of the WBLA.
