Rivers Hoopers Set Higher Goals at Basketball Africa League Playoffs

After a brilliant outing at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Sahara Conference in Dakar two weeks ago, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu has set new targets for the Playoffs.

The KingsMen had initially targeted the playoffs but went on to finish as Sahara Conference champions with a 4-2 win loss record. 

Hoopers, who last played in Kigali at the inaugural edition of the BAL in 2021, could only manage one win out of three games.

Odaudu says they are happy to be back in Kigali and ready to compete for the title this time.

”It is a great feeling.” Said Odaudu. 

”For the past two seasons, we have been watching the playoffs on television, but this season we are live in the arena. It is a reality, and we know that this is it.

”Everyone is excited; the team is hyped up and looking forward to the playoffs, and we are hoping we will continue from where we stopped.”

Hoopers became the first Nigerian team to win more than one BAL game and also the first to make the Playoffs.

Odaudu set his sights on attaining more records in Kigali.

”We have gotten a little bit greedy now. We played very well, so why do we need to stop here? A podium finish is actually what we are looking for right now,” he enthused.

The KingsMen will face AS Douanes in the seeding game on Saturday 25 May before playing Petro de Luanda or US Monastir in the quarterfinal.

”We won’t dream far ahead; we will take it one game at a time. First is AS Douanes in the seeding game, and we will use it as a test to see what we can do and what we cannot do. The target right now is the quarterfinal game; from that game, we will see what happens from there,” Ogoh concluded.

Credit: Rivers Hoopers Media.

Rivers Hoopers Land in Kigali, Hits Gym for Continental Basketball Playoffs

Nigeria representatives Rivers Hoopers have commenced training today after landing in Kigali for the Basketball Africa League BAL 2023/24 Playoffs.

The Ogo Odaudu tutored side left Nigeria yesterday and will play Senegalese side AS Douanes on Saturday 25 May for a chance to qualify for the quarter finals of this year’s tourney.

The classification matchup is a repeat of Sahara Conference ties between both teams in Dakar, Senegal.

To qualify for the playoffs, Hoopers notched up 4 wins and 2 losses to top the Sahara Conference table of the championship.

The Playoffs and Finals will begin with a classification round where the top team will play against the next best team.

The next phase will be the Quarterfinals and losing teams will be eliminated from the tournament.

The BAL 2024 Playoffs and Finals will run from  24 May to 1 June at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

The top eight teams from the regular season to compete in the Playoffs and Finals are,  Al Ahly Ly (Libya), Al Ahly SC (Egypt), AS Douanes (Senegal), Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), FUS Rabat (Morocco), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) and US Monastir (Tunisia).

The eight sides have been ranked based on the points accumulated in the conference phase.

Here’s how teams rank ahead of the classification round:

No.1 – Al Ahly SC (5-1)
No.2 – FUS Rabat (3-1)
No.3 – Rivers Hoopers (4-2)
No.4 – AS Douanes (3-3)
No.5 – Petro de Luanda (2-2)
No.6 – US Monastir (3-3)
No.7 – Al Ahly Ly (3-3)
No.8 – Cape Town Tigers (1-3)

And here is a breakdown of the 12 games that will determine the winner of the season.

DTigers Finish Winless in Afrrobasket 2025 Qualifying

Nigeria ended the first window of 2025 men’s Afrrobasket qualifying in Tunisia on a winless note.

The Nigeria DTigers slumped 62-78 against their Cape Verdean counterparts today to make it a third successive loss in the qualifying.

Divine Eke’s game high 31 points and 9 rebounds were not enough for Tigers as their opponents relied on a 26 percent downtown shooting as against Nigeria’s 16 to edge the game.

Earlier the Nigerian boys whose preparations were disrupted by uncertainties arising form paucity of funds lost their group B opener to Libya after arriving on game day.

A second successive loss to Uganda meant that Nigeria needed to win against Cape Verde today to keep their qualification hopes for 2025 Afrrobasket alive.

It looked as if Tigers would respond to the occasion after claiming the opening quarter 24-16.

However the Cape Verdeans rallied round to edge the last three quarters to finish with a perfect record of 3 wins atop the standings.

Libya with 2 wins and 1 loss occupy 2nd spot while Uganda on 1 win and 2 losses stay 3rd, ahead of winless Nigeria in last position.

The second qualifying window of Afrrobasket 2025 will start in February 2025.