The Congolese side trailed for most of the first half, falling behind 25-35 after the opening two quarters 16-21, 9-14. CNSS staged a spirited comeback in the third quarter, outscoring the Cameroonian champions 25-22 to reignite hopes of turning the match around.
The fourth quarter was a tense affair, with CNSS briefly taking a 62-60 lead with just four minutes remaining. Both teams exchanged baskets in a dramatic finale, but FAP Dames ultimately regained the lead and held on to secure the one-point victory, demonstrating their resilience as recent Cameroonian national champions and cup winners.
The defeat leaves CNSS in a must-win situation. To stay in contention for qualification to the next edition of the Women Basketball League Africa WBLA, the Congolese side will need to defeat BC Makomeno, the second representative from the DRC, in the upcoming third match day.
Despite the narrow loss, CNSS showed promise with their third-quarter fightback and will look to build on this performance as the group stage progresses.