Eleven teams are set to compete for a ticket to the 2024 Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) as the Zone Five Qualifiers tip off on October 27 in Zanzibar. Rwanda will be represented by champions Rwanda Energy Group (REG) and runners-up APR, joining nine other top clubs from seven FIBA Africa Zone 5 countries. The championship will be hosted at the newly constructed New Amaan Indoor Stadium. Despite the absence of a home team, the event promises to be a historic spectacle for basketball fans from across the region—one to be remembered for years to come. Notably, two-time champions Alexandria Sporting Club (ASC) from Egypt will be absent after being ousted by fierce rivals Al Ahly SC. LSO READ: Basketball: REG, APR women set for Zone 5 Club Championship Kenyan champions Equity Bank Hawks, who won their only crown in 2018, and multiple winners Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will once again fly their country’s flag. They are highly optimistic about their chances. KPA was top in last year’s campaign in Kigali while Hawks were third. Both teams represented the region in the AWBL won by Alexandria Sporting Club at their back yard in Egypt. The Dockers landed in Zanzibar on Wednesday afternoon after a two-week strict training and veteran coach Anthony Ojukwu remained optimistic. He has boosted the side with four key foreign signings including Customs Nigeria’s Nkem Akariwe, Keita Veronica from Benin, Malians Alima Doumbia and Chantal Kiyobe from Rwanda. KPA did well to make a first podium finish as they were placed runners up to ASC. Rwanda Energy Group (REG) just missed the bronze ending up fourth. Hawks coach Ben Oluoch says training has gone on well and the girls are in high spirits. He has Cameroonian sensational guard Mitchell Sokoudjou to run the bankers back court. JKT Lady of Uganda, FIBA Africa Zone 5 winners in 2019, APR of Rwanda, Vijana and Fox Divas both of Tanzania are the other participants. Also in the mix for the ticket to the AWBL are Gladiators and Young Sisters from Burundi and Ethiopia's Hawassa City. The show is expected to live up to its expectations with stiff competition coming from Al Ahly SC and KPA. Also in the mix are REG, Hawks and APR. FIBA Africa Zone 5 President Hisham El Hariri hailed the competitiveness in the Zone, pointing out that ASC won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 with KPA coming third last year. It is expected to be very exciting qualifiers in East Africa Zone 5 especially after the last season 3 teams of the zone played the semi-final of AWBL in Alexandria, Hariri said. As president of Zone 5, I am happy that the number of participating teams have moved from nine clubs in Dar Es Salaam in 2022, 10 in 2023 and now 11 this year. It is also the policy of the zone to encourage women activities according to FIBA objectives. Last year, three Africa Zone 5 teams, ASC and KPA battled in the finals in Alexandria while REG finished in fourth place. Tarek Khairy, the head coach who led Egypt men’s team to victory in 2016, will be steering the ship in Zanzibar, with his sights set on securing the top prize with Al Ahly SC.
