ASC Ville de Dakar closed the WBLA Group Phase with absolute authority in Cairo, sweeping all three games and sealing their place in the Quarter-Finals behind a fiery, near-record outing from Aliyah Matharu and a collectively dominant team display.
Last Updated on
December 11, 2025
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ASC Ville de Dakar did not just win Group C in Cairo; they owned it. Three games, three convincing victories, and a final performance against Malawi’s Bravehearts that felt less like a routine group outing and more like a statement of intent. Their 88-45 win at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall closed the book on a perfect 3-0 run, one built on pace, defensive bite, and a star who seems to grow more dangerous by the day.
That star, of course, is Aliyah Matharu. The American guard produced one of the most dazzling individual performances of the 2025 WBLA so far, pouring in 33 points in just under 32 minutes — a total that left her agonizingly one point short of Kayana Traylor’s freshly set tournament record.
The REG standout had scored 34 against FBA only 24 hours earlier, creating an intriguing unofficial race within the competition. Matharu knew she was close, but the disappointment, she insisted, was all on her.
“I blame myself, I missed a couple of free throws and that’s free money right there,” she said afterward, shaking her head at the missed chance to grab a piece of WBLA history. “So I definitely got to make those, but I blame myself. I wasn’t even looking, I didn’t even know.”
If she was frustrated, it never showed during the game. Matharu attacked relentlessly, slicing through the Bravehearts’ defence with a mix of speed, body control, and an unshakeable competitive streak. Her 12 made field goals set the tone early, and her ability to generate opportunities in transition fueled ASCVD’s devastating rhythm. She also battled on the glass, pulled down six rebounds, and dished five assists, the clearest sign that her influence extended far beyond scoring.
But focusing solely on Matharu would undersell the comprehensive force ASC Ville de Dakar displayed from tip-off to final buzzer. The Senegalese champions jumped to a 27-11 lead in the first quarter, turned the screws defensively in the second, and ultimately blew the game wide open with a 33-point fourth quarter that showcased their depth, energy, and collective hunger.
The numbers told the same story: a 67-46 advantage on the boards, 27-9 in assists, 18 steals, 11 blocks, and a staggering 39 points generated off turnovers. Their fast-break sequences were ruthless, 38 points in transition, and the 56 points in the paint underscored the physical superiority they imposed throughout the matchup.
The frontline delivered its share of the damage. Mame Khoudia Fall was exceptional on both ends, scoring 17 points on near-perfect finishing and grabbing 15 rebounds. She controlled the interior with authority, manipulating space and winning every 50-50 ball as if it belonged to her by right. Ndoumbe Mbodj added nine points and 18 rebounds, a quiet yet imposing double-figure rebounding effort that sealed second-chance opportunities and shut down Bravehearts whenever they dared to attack inside.
For Bravehearts, it was an uphill climb from the opening minutes. Tadiwa Mabika’s 18-point outing stood as the team’s brightest moment, but it came under constant pressure from ASCVD’s trapping, rotating, and relentless perimeter defence. Gift Kaonga and Priscilla Chella worked hard to create openings, yet the Senegalese champions absorbed every push and responded with greater tempo.
By the third quarter, it became evident that Bravehearts were fighting to slow the bleeding more than to flip the contest. ASC Ville de Dakar, however, were nowhere near done. The final period unfolded like a showcase: transition layups, clean execution, and a bench that contributed 22 points — a luxury few teams in the tournament possess at this level.
With Group C wrapped up and the Quarter-Finals ahead, Matharu emphasised that the team’s mindset would not change. Confidence, she said, comes from preparation, not from the margin of victory.
“It’s all about how you prepare,” she explained. “We’ve all been very excited to come out here and play and show that we deserve the opportunity to be here and play with the best, so that’s all we can do — focus on ourselves. We don’t really get too carried away focusing on other teams.”
There is a quiet discipline behind those words, one that mirrors the team’s sharp execution on the court. The players trust their system, their bench, their leaders, and, above all, the instructions they receive from the sideline.
“We do exactly as coaches tell us and that wins games for us,” Matharu concluded.
As they move into the knockout rounds undefeated, ASC Ville de Dakar carry the weight of expectation, but also the advantage of momentum. They look fearless, balanced, and hungry. The question now isn’t whether they can compete with the best, it’s whether anyone can slow them down.
If Cairo was the proving ground, the Quarter-Finals will be the battleground. And ASC Ville de Dakar are marching in with purpose.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
