Basketball in Africa

Kenya Ports Authority suffered their heaviest defeat in the ongoing Africa women's club championship when they went down 70-42 to First Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday.

First Bank of Nigeria their last opponents in group B beat them 70-42 in a one sided match condemning the Kenyans to lowest ebb in group B of the championships whose finals will be played on Sunday.

"We were simply outclassed," KPA team Manager Edward Oduorsaid. The game was, however, a formality after the dockers lost to Inter-Club from Angola 64-84.

Oduor said the players had learned some lessons from the tournament that would help them in future.

"The standards here were quite high and it may be needed devine intervention for us to finish within the medal brackets," Oduor said .

First Bank coach Adewunmi Aderemi said everything had gone according to plan and that they played a relaxed game against KPA as the wait for the knockout stages today and tomorrow.

"We played easy against KPA since out aim was to top the group which we have managed and hope that we will maintain the tempo to return to the top of Africa basketball which was our goal," he said.

First Bank who won the continental championships in 2003 when the games were held in Mozambique and finished third in 2004 and 2005.

KPA, who were beaten 84-64 by Inter-Club of Angola in their third match have only managed one win at the championships which has attracted 12 teams from eight countries.

"We have done everything possible to ensure that we return to the number one position in Africa women basketball," coach Aderemi said.

The Nigeria women club champion, got off to a good start with a 57-53 points win over Angolan Inter-Club.

In other matches, Nigeria second representative, Dolphins basketball club were not so lucky as they went down to another Angolan team Primero by 61-53 points.

In other results, ABC of Ivory Coast posted a surprise win over defending champion Djoliba of Mali beating them 56-47 points

It was a double victory for Mozambican teams as Ferroviaro posted a 59-47 points win over Hatari of DR Congo while ISPU beat Arc En Ciel of DR Congo 74-60.

Dolphins from Nigerian later brightened its chances with a 76-74 win over defending champion Djoliba of Mali.