Ferroviario De Maputo defeated five-time champions InterClube 59-56 points to claim their maiden title at the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women on home court on Sunday.
Having lost to InterClube in the group stage, Ferroviario de Maputo got their pound of flesh against an unbeaten Angolan side in the final with each finishing with a (6-1) record.
Italee Lucas played a crucial role for the Angolans netting a team high 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists which was not enough to deliver her team a sixth African crown.
Nadir Manuel had a double-double performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks to go with it.
Carmen Virginia Tyson-Thomas came off the bench to score a game high 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals while Odelia Eusebia Mfanela added 14 points and 8 rebounds for Ferroviario.
InterClube held a 3-point lead heading to the break 33-30, but couldn’t keep up with the host who had a better second half. Ferroviario becomes the first Mozambique club to win the African title in six years since Liga Desportiva won it in Abidjan beating InterClube.
Sunday’s win is also their first in three successive finals of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women. Italee Lucas was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, her second FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women MVP award since 2013.
The American-Angolan also earned a spot in the All-Star Five line-up where she was joined by Ginette Mfutila (First Bank Basketball), Anabela Cossa (Ferroviario), Aisha Mohamed (First Bank) and Jamila Nansikombi (Kenya Ports Authority).
Final standings of the FIBA Africa Women’s Champions Cup 2018:
1. Ferroviario de Maputo (MOZ)
2. InterClube de Luanda (ANG)
3. First Bank (NGR)
4. AS Vita-Club (COD)
5. F.A.P (CMR)
6. C.N.S.S (COD)
7. K.P.A (KEN)
8. MB2ALL (MAD)
9. Equity Bank (KEN)
10. Lakers (ZIM)
