[FuzzyRussianHat]

After missing the playoffs in the prior six seasons with middling results, Abidjan dominated the Western League standings at 105-57. There was a 15 game gap to second place Dakar at 90-72. The Dukes extended their postseason streak to three seasons. The third place spot and final playoff spot went to 87-75, impressively bouncing back from 67 wins the prior year to end a four-year playoff drought. Freetown (85-77), Conakry (83-79), and Monrovia (82-80 were each in the mix. Defending WL champ Kumasi was seventh at 79-83, ending their historic playoff streak at 14 seasons. It was the second longest in world history behind EBF’s Zurich, which grew to 20 in 1992.

Western League MVP went to Freetown 2B Korian “Fireball” Idi. In his second season as a full-time starter, the 24-year old righty from Niger led in hits (222), triples (29), stolen bases (101), average (.364), OBP (.404), and WAR (10.3). Pitcher of the Year was Abidjan’s Bomba Toe. A 24-year old righty from Sierra Leone, Toe led in WAR (7.1), wins (21-5), innings (272.2), quality starts (27), and complete games (12). He added a 2.54 ERA and 325 strikeouts.

Dakar held off Bamako 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Dukes to their third consecutive Western League Championship Series. For the third straight year, Dakar was denied. Abidjan swept them 3-0 to give the Athletes their fifth pennant, although it was the first in a decade. Abidjan’s WL titles previously came in 1975, 78, 81, and 82.



The Eastern League’s top spot had a two team race between defending West African champion Lagos and Port Harcourt, who placed first in the standings the prior season. The Lizards grabbed it by a game at 107-55, while the Hillcats were 106-56. For Lagos, it was their 14^th playoff berth over the 18 year history of WAB. Port Harcourt earned a fourth consecutive berth and tenth overall. In the battle for third, Ibadan (94-68) beat out Lome (90-72). This gave the Iguanas a third consecutive postseason appearance.

Ibadan’s Rudy Bambara won his second Eastern League MVP in three years. The 26-year old two-way star from Burkina Faso had a 19-11 record, 2.81 ERA, 246.1 innings, 274 strikeouts, and 6.9 WAR on the mound. At third base, he played 98 games with 114 hits, 23 home runs, 64 RBI, a .316/.393/.595 slash, and 5.1 WAR. Pitcher of the Year was Lagos righty Messan Atte. The Togolese 29-year old led in ERA (1.96), wins (26-6), quality starts (28), FIP- (61), and WAR (8.7). Atte added 328 strikeouts over 253 innings.

Ibadan stunned Port Harcourt 2-1 in the wild card round, sending the Iguanas to the Eastern League Championship Series for the first time. Defending champ Lagos would take the ELCS 3-1 over Ibadan, giving the Lizards back-to-back pennants. It is Lagos’ ninth EL title overall, the most of any team in WAB.



The 18^th West African Championship was the third finals meeting between Lagos and Abidjan with the Lizards winning in the 1978 and 1981 encounters. Lagos had been incredibly successful in the finals with a 7-1 record entering the 1992 edition, while the Athletes were 1-3. The series needed all seven games, but the general trend held and the Lizards repeated as WAB champs. Lagos now has eight rings over a 15 year stretch. 2B Ali Sami Naas was finals MVP as the 25-year old Algerian had 14 hits, 6 runs, 2 doubles, and 4 RBI in 11 playoff starts.



Other notes: 1992 saw zero no-hitters thrown in WAB. Addise Assefa became the first pitcher to 4000 career strikeouts. He’d retire with 4147 and would lose the top spot by the end of the 1990s, but Assefa is still second as of 2037.