CSE overturned a slow start with a explosive second quarter driven by Amani’s 11 points and Sene’s three quick triples, seizing control by halftime. They held firm in a defensive second half to secure a 57–48 win, gaining key momentum despite being outrebounded.
Last Updated on
November 23, 2025
Hanna Mabelle Amani delivered a show-stopping, momentum-shifting performance that will be replayed, rewatched, and remembered by CSE fans for a long time. Her brilliance fueled a historic turnaround for the Ivorian side, powering the Treichville-based club to their first victory at the 2025 FIBA WBLA Qualifiers—a win that felt as much like a statement as it did a breakthrough.
Yet, if you watched only the first quarter, you would never have predicted the explosion to come.
Energie came out of the gates with sharpness, purpose, and a sense of urgency. Chasing their second win in three games, the Beninese champions looked like a team determined to stamp their authority early. The opening minutes were a showcase of rhythm and confidence, orchestrated by veteran playmaker Aku Afetse, who turned the period into a three-point exhibition.
Afetse launched four attempts from deep in the first quarter alone, sinking two of them to register six points. Each make sent a wave of energy through the Energie bench, who fed off the veteran’s composure and accuracy. Complementing her effort was Veronica Keita, whose five points added another layer of offensive pressure that CSE struggled to contain. Energie’s ball movement was fluid, their defensive rotations sharp, and their confidence almost palpable as they stormed to a 21–10 lead.
CSE’s only bright spark during that difficult stretch came from Kesia Kom Yagou, whose lone three-pointer acted as a lifeline—one that prevented the deficit from ballooning further. Still, the Ivorian side looked flat, hesitant, and clearly searching for their identity.
No one, not even Energie, could’ve predicted what came next.
The second quarter wasn’t just a turnaround—it was an eruption. A shift so dramatic that it completely altered the tone and temperature of the game.
The spark? CSE’s sharpshooting tandem: Ndeye Sene and Hanna Mabelle Amani.
Within seconds of the quarter resuming, Sene signaled the beginning of CSE’s comeback with a clean, confident three-pointer. Moments later—another. And then, almost unbelievably—another. Three straight long-range missiles in under two minutes. The arena shook. Energie’s players stared in disbelief. Their coach scrambled for answers.
And while Sene lit the fuse, Amani detonated the explosion.
With the defense already reeling, Amani began to carve through Energie’s schemes, knocking down shots from all angles. Her confidence grew with each possession, and soon she was in full takeover mode. Amani poured in 11 points during the quarter, including three cold-blooded three-pointers that felt like daggers every time they splashed through the net.
CSE’s bench roared. Energie’s rhythm evaporated. The game flipped on its head as CSE outscored Energie 29–10 in a quarter that will go down as one of the most dominant single-period performances of the tournament so far.
Halftime arrived with CSE suddenly—and emphatically—in control, leading 39–31.
If the second quarter was all fireworks, the second half was a grinding, tactical battle. Energie tightened their defense and tried to claw their way back, edging the third quarter 9–8. But CSE, buoyed by their earlier explosion, refused to crumble. They absorbed each push, controlled the tempo, and made just enough plays to keep Energie at bay.
The fourth quarter played out with similar intensity. Energie threw everything they had at CSE—full-court pressure, aggressive drives, quick-trigger threes—but the Ivorians remained composed. They closed the game on a 10–8 run, demonstrating poise and maturity to secure a 57–48 victory that felt both earned and deserved.
Despite being outrebounded 54–43, CSE compensated with hustle and execution in key moments. They forced Energie into costly mistakes, converting turnovers into 20 points, a crucial factor in the win. Transition play also went in their favor, edging Energie 13–12 in fast-break points.
Beyond the arc, CSE showed more control and efficiency, shooting 23.1% compared to Energie’s 21.7%—but the real difference lay in the timing of those makes. CSE hit their threes when it mattered most, fueling the comeback that changed the trajectory of the game.
For CSE, this victory is more than just a mark in the win column—it’s a surge of momentum they desperately needed. The team showed resilience, depth, and an ability to respond under pressure, all qualities that could serve them well as the qualifiers progress.
For Energie, the questions are unavoidable. How did a dominant first quarter unravel so quickly? How did they allow a 21–10 lead to flip into a halftime deficit? The second quarter collapse will surely be the focal point of their review sessions.
But for now, the night belongs to Amani, Sene, and the rest of CSE—a team that rediscovered its fire and announced its presence in electrifying fashion.
[Phoography Courtesy of FIBA/Road to BAL]
