It was the first time CNSS had gotten this far in the competition but the experience and pedigree of Al Ahly showed as they outclassed CNSS 98-55. Al Ahly took it up a notch in the third quarter and did not look back. Their depth also proved too much for CNSS to handle.
Last Updated on
December 13, 2025
The game got off to a quick start when Hagar Amer capitalised on an early CNSS turnover, scoring a fast-break layup to open the scoring. CNSS responded immediately through Djelika Tounkara, who drilled a three-pointer. Al Ahly answered right back as Amer hit a three-pointer on the very next possession. That early exchange set the tone for a tightly contested, action-packed first half, capped by another Amer fast-break layup that put Al Ahly up by four points.
CNSS forced a turnover from Delicia Washington, and Gracia Nguz converted it into a fast-break layup. Raneem Elgedawy answered by stepping out to hit a three-pointer from the wing. Nguz struck again, scoring through contact and completing the three-point play. After setting up teammates with several assists, Ketia Mbelu added to the run, drilling a three-pointer while drawing a foul. Her shot put gave CNSS a one-point lead.
Al Ahly broke the game open with a 10–0 run, capped by consecutive three-pointers from Raneem Elgedawy and Delicia Washington. CNSS responded through a Djelika Tounkara turnaround jumper and a Ketia Mbelu three, but Al Ahly finished the quarter on a 5–0 spurt to lead 30–21. Even with the cushion, they knew they weren’t safe against a CNSS team famed for its relentless fight.
The second quarter started sloppily, with both teams missing at the rim and committing turnovers. CNSS scored the only basket in the first three minutes with an early layup, before Asia Strong finally answered with one of her own. CNSS then strung together a 7–0 run, fueled by five points from Djelika Tounkara. Their surge faded when defensive lapses led to fouls on Nyamer Diew, who hit both free throws, and on Delicia Washington, who completed an and-one.
CNSS exploited Al Ahly’s brief lapses to score just enough to tie the game at 39–39. Al Ahly then strung together a 6–0 run, with Hagar Amer knocking down two free throws, before Lalla Traoré’s layup cut the deficit to 45–41 at halftime. CNSS won the quarter and carried strong momentum into the second half.
CNSS opened the second half with energy, tying the game at 45 and 47.
The tide turned when Al Ahly attacked the paint, pushing CNSS into early foul trouble. Led by Hagar Amer and Nyamer Diew, Al Ahl capitalised at the free-throw line. With key defenders in foul trouble, CNSS couldn’t sustain their usual intensity, and because their offence depends on their defence, they struggled once that foundation was taken away.
Al Ahly were happy to keep attacking and getting to the line, steadily extending their lead and putting CNSS in a defensive bind. Their defence was just as crucial to a dominant third quarter, in which they poured in 25 points while allowing only 10. Eleven of those points came from the free-throw line, and Nyamer Diew contributed 9 in the period, helping push Al Ahly out to a 69–51 advantage.
Al Ahly opened the fourth with Rose Macuei sinking two free throws, followed by a three-pointer from Meral Abdelgawad to grow the lead. Their early 8–0 The surge had fans and players wondering about a 100-point finish. A lone Djelika Tounkara free throw briefly stopped the run before the sides traded layups. Al Ahly then resumed attacking the paint and drawing fouls, igniting a 10–0 run that stretched the lead to a game-best 89–54.
Now entirely in control, Al Ahly emptied their bench and gave their starters a well-earned rest. The energy on defence, however, never wavered. They kept CNSS scoreless over the final three minutes and tacked on nine more points to their tally, sealing a 98–55 win, just one basket short of the 100-point mark the home fans had been craving.
We caught up with Nyamer Diew who had 11 points and she had the following to say when asked about her thoughts on the game:
We [Al Ahly] didn't come out as strong as we wanted to. The other games we came out strong but this game, we didn't so they [CNSS] were able to keep up but we got to halftime and we had to reassess and play the defense we wanted to... making them have to do it for four quarters really rather than just two quarters.
She then acknowledged that the score line does not tell the full story as it was a close game for most of the game before Al Ahly took off. She added the following:
I think it's just about playing the full 40 minutes. At some stage, we were down because of the refs or something. The refs made calls that we might not necessarily like but at the end of the day, we have to play basketball. If they [the refs] are not going to call offensively or defensively, we just attack and make them have to make a call.
She then had praises for her team:
We should play hard for 40 minutes because we should be blowing teams. We're very good. We have scorers at every single level. Anyone who comes in, we know that they're going to come in and score so it's just trusting ourselves and shots will fall. Shots weren't falling so we thought we could do still do some things on the defensive end and that's what we did for sure.
Al Ahly will take on APR in the semifinals. One they know will not be easy but they believe their confidence and preparation will get them over the hump. Meanwhile, CNSS will take on KPA in the classification game as they battle for the fifth position.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
