Morocco secured their second classification round win at the 2025 FIBA U16 Women’s AfroBasket, defeating Guinea 66-50. Douae Laachir dominated the paint with 14 rebounds and five blocks, while Morocco excelled in fast breaks, turnovers, and bench contributions.
Last Updated on
September 14, 2025
The North Africans, who were winless in the group phase, losing all three games against Egypt, Cameroon, and Kenya, registered their second win in the classification rounds with a comprehensive 52-36 victory over Guinea.
Marwa Abdelkader was the top scorer for the Moroccans as she delivered 14 points but wasn't the most efficient player in terms of input made for the team, Douae Laachir was the player with that tag as she could only muster two points but grabbed 14 rebounds with 11 registered while protecting her paint and also made five blocks during the game, she also made one assist in the tie. Guinea, on their part, struggled to score in the game, but two players combined to post 21 points, Mariama Barry and Kadiatou Kaba, with the latter scoring one more.
Morocco signaled their intent early and led from the first quarter by going on a 7-0 run before Mariam Soumah got Guinea's first two points with 6:50 on the clock. Only one point was then made again by the Guineans, as Morocco instead increased their points to close out the first quarter 12-3.
An anticipated second-half blowout would have been expected, but the Guineans staged a fightback in the second quarter. With baskets pouring in from both ends as the crowd were being entertained in Kigali, it was Guinea who closed out the second quarter by 20-18, and the halftime score stood at 23-30.
The intensity before the halftime break almost carried over into the third quarter, but it was the North Africans who regained their early momentum, opening up a ten-point lead to close out the quarter at 16-6.
If another fightback response was expected in the final quarter, it failed to materialise as both teams struggled with the turnovers, fouls and missed shots and went on to record the lowest scoring quarter at 7-6 with the Moroccans securing the victory courtesy of a 16-point difference.
In the end, Morocco dominated in the paint by scoring 28 points, with Guinea managing to score ten points less.
Sixteen fast break points and 21 points garnered off turnovers were some of the outstanding stats from Morocco, as against nine and 12 points respectively for Guinea. Morocco's bench also contributed 10 points to see out the win, while Kenya's bench had contributed 18 points after the game.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA]
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