AfroBasket: Cameroon fight back to beat Mozambique

Cameroon, the hosts of AfroBasket Women 2015, had a slow start to clinch their first win in the tournament, beating Mozambique 68-54 in the last game of Group A on Thursday.

Turning Point: After trailing by as many nine points, Priscilla Mbiandja made Cameroon’s solo three-pointer of the game with a minute left in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 39-38. Then team captain Amina Njonkou hit a layup, and Cameroon never trailed again.

Stats Don’t Lie: Although Mozambique played impressive fast-break game, their persistent individual plays rather than team effort proved costly as they finished with only four assists.

Deolinda Ngulela and Ingvild Mucauro combined for 34 Mozambique points, but the game belonged to the hosts.

Game Hero: Mbiandja had a poor start to the game, turning the ball over three times before the break, but she re-emerged as the game-changer, making Cameroon’s only three-pointer that denied Mozambique.

Bottom Line: Struggling at all aspects of the contest, Cameroon never looked like a title contender. And ball handling proved a challenge for the hosts who finished with 25 turn-overs.

While Mozambique instilled a fast-paced rhythm, Cameroon seemed slow and passive at both ends of the floor.

Alain Zedong’s team was fortunate to trail only by three points (30-27) at half-time. Clearly, taller and more athletic than Mozambique, Cameroon missed shots after shots in the paint.

But, they regrouped in the third quarter to close out a must-win contest.

Back in 2013 in Maputo, Mozambique and Cameroon performed a breathtaking Semi-Final. At the time the hosts ended up winning it the contest and secured qualification for the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women.