The Basketball Africa League (BAL) Sahara Conference delivered another day of high-intensity action in Rabat on Saturday, with two closely fought contests further shaping the early group standings.
Nigeria’s Maktown Flyers registered their maiden BAL victory in the opening game, overcoming fellow debutants JCA Kings of Côte d’Ivoire 76–68 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex. The Flyers produced a disciplined display, with Jawad Adekoya leading the charge with 20 points. His commanding performance anchored Maktown’s control in crucial phases of the game, sealing a landmark win in their inaugural campaign.
JCA Kings, now with back-to-back defeats, were paced by Jonathan Cisse, who contributed 15 points in a losing effort.
In the evening clash, Tunisia’s Club Africain edged Egyptian giants Al Ahly 69–68 in a pulsating encounter that went down to the wire. Omar Abada once again starred for the Tunisian side, posting 25 points, four rebounds, and seven assists in a commanding all-round display.
However, it was Oussama Maranoui who delivered the decisive moment, draining a clutch three-pointer in the dying seconds to hand Club Africain their second straight win. Al Ahly, led by former NBA guard Kevin Murphy with 19 points and six rebounds, fell just short despite a resilient showing.
The result underlined Club Africain’s strong early form, as they maintained composure in the closing moments against one of the tournament’s most seasoned teams. They remain unbeaten after two games, while Al Ahly begin their campaign with a narrow defeat.
As the group phase gathers momentum, focus now shifts to Sunday’s fixtures, with teams intensifying their push for a top-four finish and qualification for the BAL Playoffs scheduled for May 22–31, 2026 in Kigali.
