Sporting Clube de Luanda extended their unbeaten streak at the WBLA Qualifiers, defeating Bravehearts 83–55. Despite sloppy execution, the Angolan champions’ defensive dominance proved too much as they booked their ticket to the December showcase.
Last Updated on
November 9, 2025
Following their dominant 98–52 win over UNAM on Game Day 1, Sporting Clube de Luanda entered their game against the Bravehearts knowing that a 2-0 record would secure their spot at the big dance in December, the highly-anticipated 2025 Women's Basketball League Africa, in Egypt.
The 2025 Liga Azule champions took the floor at the DHPS Indoor Courts in Namibia, brimming with confidence. That same swagger (and overconfidence) from Media Day carried over as the Angolan side looked every bit like a team on a mission, despite shooting poorly from the floor.
Sporting started fast, holding Bravehearts to 12 points in the first quarter while scoring 24 of their own. The Angolans opened the game with an 8–0 run, keeping Bravehearts scoreless for nearly three minutes. Their early defensive intensity set the tone for a matchup that quickly tilted in their favour.
Tadiwa Mabika tried to rally Bravehearts after stealing the ball from Nelma Cunha and finishing a layup in transition. She immediately followed with another steal, assisting Priscilla Chella for a second fast-break basket to make it 8–4. But Sporting quickly reasserted control as Magda Mussol drove through the lane for a quick response.
Bravehearts briefly kept pace as Mabika and Chella combined again to close the gap to 10–6. Maryshallet Shibweche joined the scoring, trimming the deficit to just two points at 10–8. However, a pair of defensive lapses allowed Mussol to earn trips to the line, converting three of four free throws to restore a five-point lead.
That was the last time Bravehearts looked competitive in the quarter. Sporting punished the Malawian club with an 8–0 run that extended the lead to 21–9. Despite several missed layups and open threes, Sporting's ability to still execute offensive actions left Bravehearts chasing shadows (to put it politely).
Nelma Cunha and Conceição Caetano closed the first quarter strong with plays from both the field and the line. Sporting carried a 25–12 advantage into the second period, fully in control despite their poor ball handling and missing more than several opportunities at the free-throw line.
The second quarter followed a similar rhythm, with Sporting outscoring Bravehearts 24–14. Early in the frame, Bravehearts showed some fight, cutting the lead to 32–18 after two minutes. However, Sporting quickly shifted gears, capitalising on weak defensive rotations with an 11–2 surge to make it 43–20.
Desire Kaunda and Forget Mkandawire provided temporary relief for Bravehearts with back-to-back scores. But Sporting answered through Antónia Ngungui, who finished off a crisp pass from Ivanilda Manjenje for another easy bucket. The Angolan club led 49–26 at halftime, with their dominance, for the most part, underlined by the Bravehearts' poor shot selection and loose defensive structure. The Bravehearts were basically worse than Sporting.
Sporting's overconfidence, however, showed in the third period. The Angolan champions lost focus, managing only 13 points while allowing Bravehearts to outscore them 17–13. The period opened with both sides trading turnovers, missed layups, and off-target jumpers before Mabika broke the drought.
Her bucket sparked a 13–2 Bravehearts run, cutting the lead to 13 points and forcing Head Coach Ângela Cardoso to call a timeout. Cardoso drew up a 3-point play for Caetano, but the shot missed the mark. Shibweche and Mabika continued to attack, reducing the deficit to 10 points at 53–43.
That surge, however, woke Sporting up. The Angolan side responded with a 9–0 run to stretch the gap back to 19 points at 62–43.
Both teams then sputtered offensively in the closing minutes, combining for several turnovers and missed opportunities before the horn ended the quarter.
The final period mirrored much of the previous one early on, with both teams misfiring repeatedly. Sporting eventually regained rhythm as Cunha drew a foul on Amanda Kuwale, sinking free throws to make it 64–43. Bravehearts responded with an 8–1 run to pull within 14, but that was their final spark.
Sporting closed the game "emphatically" with an 18–4 run, reasserting their dominance. Their defence (and to be honest, Bravehearts' terrible offence) allowed them to own the paint while their transition game came alive. When the buzzer sounded, Sporting had secured an 83–55 win and a 2–0 tournament record.
Statistically, the performance was far from flawless. Sporting shot a dismal 9.5% from beyond the arc, struggling to find rhythm from long range. Bravehearts weren't much better, hitting only 20% of their 3-pointers.
Free-throw shooting was equally rough. Sporting converted just 65.6% of their attempts, while Bravehearts were even worse at 34.6%. The poor shooting numbers from both sides reflected inconsistent offensive execution throughout the contest.
Turnovers were another lowlight. Sporting coughed up the ball 27 times, but Bravehearts somehow managed to exceed that with 38 turnovers. Neither team displayed much composure in handling full-court pressure or traps, leading to a sloppy overall flow.
Despite their inefficiencies, Sporting's depth and defensive backbone made a difference, albeit somewhat, against a team that was significantly weaker than them.
Bravehearts relied heavily on Mabika, who finished with eight points and 15 rebounds in an exhausting two-way effort. Her defensive instincts created fast-break chances, but the Malawian side lacked the scoring balance to sustain runs.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/Women's Basketball League Africa]
