First Bank Basketball Club ended their return to the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) with a 48–42 loss to F.A.P Women in their classification match at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Egypt on Thursday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The defeat brought a frustrating end to the Elephant Girls’ first appearance at the competition in six years. Having beaten the Cameroonian side 58–52 in their final group game, coach Juliana Ojoshogu Negedu’s team were unable to replicate the sharpness and control that had earned them that earlier victory.
First Bank had a sluggish start, struggling to settle as F.A.P took the opening quarter 15–8. They responded well in the second period, tightening their defence and showing better organisation to edge the quarter 14–6, levelling the game heading into half-time. However, momentum shifted again after the break. F.A.P regained control, taking the third quarter 12–7 and finishing the fourth with greater composure to seal their first win of the 2025 WBLA season.
Abigail Isaac stood out for the Elephant Girls, contributing eight points in just over eighteen minutes. She shot efficiently while adding four rebounds, an assist and two steals, with her energy and decision-making providing a lift during key stretches when the team struggled to generate offence.
For F.A.P, the combination of Damaris Emédié and Raissa Mogoun proved decisive. Emédié delivered a dominant display in the paint with 13 points and an exceptional 21 rebounds, constantly troubling First Bank with her physicality. Mogoun added 14 points and produced important plays on both ends of the court, helping F.A.P maintain control in the closing stages.
Although First Bank’s return to continental action ends with a tenth-place finish, the experience offers valuable lessons for a team looking to rebuild its reputation in African basketball.
Their campaign now draws to a close in Cairo, while attention shifts to the quarter-finals, which get underway on Friday as the 2025 WBLA enters its decisive phase.
