The Basketball Africa League (BAL) delivered another electrifying day of competition on May 20th, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda with fans witnessing two intense matchups: APR vs. Al Ahli Tripoli and MBB vs. Nairobi City Thunder (NCT). Each game was a showcase of skill, strategy, and resilience, with teams battling for supremacy in the Nile Conference.
APR vs. Al Ahli Tripoli
The highly anticipated clash between Rwanda’s APR and Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli ended in a 90-68 victory for Al Ahli Tripoli, securing a spot in the BAL5 Playoffs set to take place in Pretoria, South Africa.
While the final score suggests a dominant win, the game was fiercely contested, especially in the first half.
Buoyed by a near-capacity crowd, APR came out firing. Obadiah Noel led the charge, scoring crucial points to give APR an early 17-11 lead. Their defense was aggressive, forcing turnovers and limiting Al Ahli’s offensive rhythm.
In the second quarter, despite missing star player Aliou Diarra due to the injury he sustained on Sunday 18th May while the team was playing against Nairobi City Thunder, APR remained competitive.
However, Al Ahli Tripoli’s Jean-Jacques Boissy found his rhythm, hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give his team a 42-41 halftime lead. This moment proved pivotal, as it shifted the momentum in favor of the Libyan side.
Both teams tightened their defenses in the third quarter, making scoring difficult. As the quarter progressed, Al Ahli Tripoli extended their lead to 61-52 with Boissy and Naseim Badrush continuing their offensive onslaught, exploiting APR’s weakened interior defense.
With APR struggling to maintain their intensity in the fourth quarter, Al Ahli Tripoli capitalized. Boissy and Badrush spearheaded a late surge, sealing the 22-point victory.
Overall, Al Ahli Tripoli remains undefeated (3-0) in the Nile Conference and is on track for the playoffs. APR on the other hand stands at 2-1, calling for a regroup ahead of their next challenge against MBB.
MBB vs. Nairobi City Thunder
Earlier in the day, MBB (Made for Basketball) and Nairobi City Thunder (NCT) treated fans to a fierce contest in quest their first win of the season.
In the end, MBB edged out NCT with a dramatic 75-74 victory, thanks to a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds.
Photos by Shema Innocent
