First Bank Basketball Club slipped closer to an early exit at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) after falling 82–53 to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in their second Group B outing on Sunday at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt.
The defeat— their second in as many games— leaves the Nigerian champions needing a miracle to advance.
Despite entering the contest desperate to revive their campaign, First Bank struggled to match KPA’s intensity from the opening tip.
The Nigerian side fell 19–13 in the first quarter and were overwhelmed 26–11 in the second, a stretch that effectively put them on the back foot for the remainder of the game.
The “Elephant Girls” found it difficult to cope with KPA’s pace, physicality, and ball movement.
Turnovers, defensive lapses, and second-chance points conceded repeatedly halted their attempts to build momentum.
Nigerian guard Wandoo Marvis Hembam was the standout performer for First Bank, contributing nine points in an otherwise challenging outing.
Her effort, however, could not prevent KPA from maintaining their grip on the game.
Statistically, the gap in execution was evident. First Bank managed just 18.4% shooting on two-point attempts and failed to establish an offensive rhythm, while KPA converted at an impressive 52.3% clip inside the arc.
The loss keeps First Bank winless and places them on the brink of elimination.
Their final group fixture against FAP of Cameroon now becomes a must-win contest, with qualification hopes hinging not only on victory but also on favorable outcomes in other groups as they chase a “best losers” slot.
Meanwhile, KPA’s victory keeps them perfect in Group B, securing their place in the knockout stage and reinforcing their status as early contenders for the WBLA title.
This year’s WBLA format features three groups, with the top two teams from each pool and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Teams that miss out will proceed to classification games.
