Ndidi Madu joins Angola’s InterClube

Nigeria international Ndidi Madu has joined Angolan and five-time African Champions Cup Women (ACCW) winners InterClube de Luanda, FIBA.com reported.

The player, who just won the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket 2017 title, fills the void left by Angolan international Nadir Manuel, who is said to be on a maternity leave. And, Madu joins a team she has faced on a number of occasions.

Two years ago, the 28-year-old power forward, helped Mozambique outfit Ferroviario de Maputo claim a ACCW Third-Place finish. A year earlier in 2014, Madu, who has a vast experience in European leagues, featured at ACCW with Nigeria’s First Bank.

“She is a player with similar characteristics to Nadir [Manuel], and having watching her play so many times in recent years, I thought she would fit in our team,” InterClube de Luanda head coach Apolinario Paquete explained to FIBA.basketball.

The Angolan champions are currently on their pre-season, but bringing a player of Madu’s caliber would “help us win every competition we’ll take part,” Paquete added.

InterClube will open the 2017-18 season taking on arch-rival Primeiro D’Agosto in a two-game series of the Angolan SuperCup early in November. They will then resume playing the 2017 the FIBA ACCW qualifiers against FIBA Africa Zone 6 oppositions in November.

“Madu has been practicing with us for the past two weeks,” the player recalled. “She is a terrific defender, she plays physical and we are pleased to have her with us.”

This year’s ACCW is expected to take place in later November/early December in the Angolan capital of Luanda.

With five ACCW title, InterClube are the most successful club in the history of the competition.