Centre Fédéral de Guinée (CFG) bounced back in their second Road to BAL outing with a 66–61 win over AS Douanes, powered by Kabinet Kaba’s 12 points, 17 rebounds, and 4 blocks, plus Zakaria Ouattara’s 16 points.
Last Updated on
October 18, 2025
CFG bounced back in their second group game, following their 88-60 loss to Al Ahly Benghazi on the opening night in Bamako. The Guinean side showed much more resilience in their clash with AS Douanes, keeping their Elite 16 hopes alive.
The Burkina Faso-based AS Douanes, not to be confused with the Senegal-based AS Douanes, got off to a firing start, generating points at all three levels. Alexandre Tahita’s three-point shot knockdown officially announced their intention from the onset of the game.
They got off to an early 11-4 lead; however, this was short-lived as CFG went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. Zakaria Ouattara sank two three-pointers to spark this run, prompting an AS Douanes timeout. This timeout yielded positive results as AS Douanes clawed back to take a 17-14 lead by the end of the quarter.
CFG opened the second quarter with a perfectly executed action leading to a three-pointer from Aboubacar Savane. They rode the wave of that early momentum and used their defence to fuel their offence. After a long stalemate, CFG not only broke the deadlock but went on a 6-0 run and reclaimed the lead.
Franck Ouedraogo’s three-pointer halted CFG’s momentum, but Kabinet Kaba’s size played a pivotal role in restoring CFG’s lead. AS Douanes seemed to find refuge on the perimeter to disrupt CFG’s momentum as Alexandre Tahita drained a triple with a minute left in the half. AS Douanes closed out the half on a 7-0 run, but CFG maintained their lead, 31-29.
There was very little separating the two sides. This was evident when both teams failed to register a single point in the first two minutes of the quarter. Rampinga Ouagraoua then broke the deadlock with a put-back under the rim to tie the game at 31 points apiece.
CFG then went on a run and restored a five-point lead. As usual, AS Douanes recalibrated and drained another three-pointer to break the momentum, courtesy of Wandeketa Ouedraogo. The two teams then traded buckets while Wendaketa Ouedraogo continued to hit the mark from beyond the arc.
Elhadj Bah, uncharacteristically, scored a three-pointer for CFG, proving that he can do it all. Franck Ouedraogo scored a put-back lay-up at the end of the quarter to tie the game, as both teams were squared at 47 points.
The fourth quarter had the feel of a winner-takes-all game to it, as both teams went all in to win it. They mirrored each other in almost every aspect; they both opened their accounts with two perfect free throws. Franck Ouedraogo continued on his impressive offensive run to score AS Douanes’ first five points of the quarter and keep the game within reach.
Both teams then traded buckets, with very little separating them. AS Douanes continued to be tenacious on the offensive glass as Ismaila Ouedraogo tied the game at 57 points with a put-back layup. The final three minutes of the encounter saw CFG begin to pull away.
CFG’s game management in the closing minutes of the game showed their preparedness for such a moment. They slowed the game down and decisively picked apart AS Douanes’ defence. This gave them a six-point lead. However, that lead was halved when Ouedraogo drained a three-pointer after Zakaria Ouattara lost the ball.
Ouattara made up for it with a layup to restore a five-point lead and eventually close this game out at 66-61. Franck Ouedraogo finished with 14 points and five rebounds in just 18 minutes of play.
For the Guineans, Zakaria Ouattara led all scorers with 16 points, but it was Kabinet Kabi who stuffed the stats sheet with 12 points, 17 rebounds (nine of which were offensive), four blocks and two steals. They have kept their hopes alive and will prepare for their next match, which will be equally important.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/Road to BAL]
