First Bank Basketball Club revived their hopes at the ongoing Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) 2025 after grinding out a 58–52 victory over Cameroon’s FAP in a tense Group B contest at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Cairo.
The win is a landmark moment for Nigerian women’s club basketball, marking the first group-stage victory by a Nigerian team in the WBLA since 2023 and ending a five-game losing streak to FAP stretching across previous editions of the tournament.
A Needed Breakthrough for the Elephant Girls
The Lagos-based “Elephant Girls” entered the tie under pressure after back-to-back losses earlier in the group phase. But they delivered a spirited performance against a physically imposing FAP side, controlling key stretches of the game and showing improved defensive discipline.
First Bank’s composure in the closing minutes proved decisive as they held off a late Cameroonian surge to secure their first win of the campaign.
Veteran forward Nkem Alaraiwe, led the team with a crucial 11-point performance, steering the Nigerian side to a much needed win in their final group fixture.
The victory not only boosts their morale but also keeps their qualification chances alive, as they now await results from the remaining Group B fixtures to determine whether they will advance to the quarter-finals or drop into the classification round.
What the Win Means
Ends a five-game losing run to FAP in the WBLA.
First Nigerian club win at the WBLA since 2023.
Puts First Bank in contention for a quarter-final spot, depending on results from other games.
Reinforces Nigeria’s pedigree in women’s basketball at continental level.
What’s Next for First Bank?
First Bank will now monitor the outcome of the remaining group games involving KPA, CNSS, and FAP. They currently remain in the hunt to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
With momentum restored, the Elephant Girls will hope this result becomes a turning point in their WBLA 2025 campaign.
 2025 after grinding){kind=link}