Sporting Clube de Luanda reignited their WBLA campaign with a composed, defence-driven win over FBA in Cairo, powered by Eleuteria Lhavanguane’s 26-point performance. The Angolan side improved to 1-1, while FBA slipped to 0-2.
Last Updated on
December 7, 2025
Luanda’s approach was measured, calm and deliberate. They built their advantage without needing a spectacular run; instead, each quarter nudged the lead a little further away from FBA’s reach. A 17-12 opening frame set the tone, but the real separation came in the second and third quarters when Sporting tightened their grip defensively, conceding just 10 points before halftime and only 5 in a suffocating third period. By the time the final quarter arrived, Luanda had the momentum, the composure and the firepower to close the game with a confident 20-point burst.
No one shone brighter than Lhavanguane. Her scoring presence influenced every phase of the contest. She had already poured in 17 points by halftime and finished with 26 on an ultra-efficient 9-of-14 shooting, combining calculated drives with confident perimeter touches. Her 3-of-4 accuracy from deep and her willingness to attack defenders early in possessions gave Sporting the offensive balance they needed. More importantly, she added five assists, keeping the ball moving and preventing FBA from keying in solely on her creation.
Behind her, Magda Mussol anchored the minutes-heavy contributions, logging nearly 38 minutes and fighting through a difficult shooting night to finish with 11 points and seven rebounds. Nilsa Chiziane added nine points in under 18 minutes and was decisive in key patches where Sporting needed energy and physicality. though the offensive numbers tell part of the story, it was the collective defensive commitment that truly defined the night.
“For us, this win means a lot for us and make us more strong, make us more together and make us believe that we can do better every single game,” said Wilma Covane after the game, summarising the relief and renewed conviction within the group, acknowledging the challenge FBA posed, noting, "This game was kind of hard because they have really good players and they fight a lot. It wasn't an easy game but my team is a fighter. We are fighters and we did our best to win this game."
Her emphasis on Sporting’s identity came back repeatedly.
“Because we play a lot of defence. I believe my teammates are strong on defence,” she added, and the scoreboard supports that statement.
FBA struggled all night to find rhythm, finishing with only 12 points in the first quarter and never reaching double digits again until the fourth. Sporting closed space quickly, contested every pass and won most 50-50 moments, which prevented FBA’s primary creators from settling in.
For FBA, the frustrations were evident but so was the determination to respond. Djeneba Sangare’s 18 points were the lifeline that kept them afloat offensively, but the team struggled to convert good opportunities and to capitalise on the periods where they accelerated the tempo. Their fourth-quarter push showed resilience, but the deficit was already too wide to threaten Sporting’s control.
Zykera Elaine Rice reflected candidly afterward on the challenges her team faced, especially as they continue to adjust to the absence of one of their key players.
“We haven't had to play without Rukia, and who knows even if that will be the case for the next game, but we just have to rally. We have to come together. We have to figure out how to score, and how to talk on defence, and how to get rebounds because we didn't do that today.”
She insisted that improvement is not only possible but expected, noting, “If we do it again, I don't know what the outcome will be, but I do not see it as something impossible, so we just got to rally.”
And despite the offensive struggles, Rice pointed to one positive: FBA’s transition efforts.
“We ran the floor hard… there were just a lot of things that we didn't finish. If we can continue to run the floor, and catch the balls, and put the ball in the basket, I think we'll be all right.”
Sporting, meanwhile, leave the night with the energy they hoped to regain. The win breaks open their path toward qualification and proves what Covane insisted on—this team is built on fight, unity and defensive commitment. If they continue to blend efficiency from their scorers with the stubbornness they showed for three quarters, their WBLA journey is far from finished.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
