Ferroviário de Maputo is once again in the Sasol League semifinals, maintaining an impressive streak of nine consecutive appearances since 2014. This continuous run was only interrupted in 2013, 2020, and 2021, when the National Championship was canceled. Now, the basketball team from the Mozambican capital faces Lazio in a thrilling playoff for access to the final.
National runners-up and fifth-placed in the last edition of the Sasol League, the two teams meet again a week after Ferroviário de Maputo won their regular season match with an impressive 80-52 score. On November 2, Ferroviário de Maputo controlled every quarter, with Anabela Cossa scoring a standout 21 points. The team maintained a winning streak against Lazio throughout the year, winning all matches, including the recent City Championship, with scores of 76-34 and 88-40.
Lazio, in turn, secured their place in the semifinal playoff by defeating a revamped Ferroviário da Beira 2-0. Lazio won the first game 64-55, and in the return, they defeated the Chiveve Locomotives again 49-46. Dilma Roldão, a former Ferroviário B team player, stood out with 12 points for Lazio.
To face the Sasol League, Lazio has strengthened its squad with talents such as Onélia Pérola Mutombene, Iliana Ventura (who played for Costa do Sol in recent years), and Lacky Samo (who turned heads at A Politécnica before moving to the United States). Diout Oumu has also been a leading scorer for the team.
In the other semifinal, Costa do Sol will face A Politécnica, ensuring the public will be treated to exciting and decisive matches. The competition promises to continue raising the bar for women's basketball in Mozambique and keep passionate fans engaged. The battle for the Sasol League title is far from over, and basketball fans eagerly await to see which teams will emerge as this season's champions.
