BASKETBALL - The African Mirror

Aug

20

2025

Women’s basketball in Nigeria is on a winning streak: how to take it further

BASKETBALL

NIGERIA’S women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, won a fifth consecutive title at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on 3 August. The Conversation Africa asked Michael Gbemisola Aina, a technical commissioner of the Nigeria Basketball Federation who has researched basketball development in Nigeria, about what the win means and what should be done to improve the game in Nigeria. What does the win mean for Nigeria? The FIBA Women’s AfroBasket is the main women’s basketball event in Africa and is organised by the Africa regional office. The competition started in 1966 and takes place every two years.…

Jun

27

2025

By The African Mirror

From Rumbek to Riches: Khaman Maluach’s meteoric rise

BASKETBALL

THE lights blazed bright at Brooklyn's Barclays Centre on Thursday night, but none shone brighter than the smile that spread across Khaman Maluach's face when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name as the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. In that electric moment, history was made – not just for the towering South Sudanese centre, but for an entire continent that has watched one of its own reach unprecedented heights. A Desert Rose Blooms in Brooklyn Standing at 7'2" with the grace of a gazelle and the determination of a lion, Maluach has become the highest-drafted former…

Jun

21

2025

By The African Mirror

Siakam’s masterclass forces historic game 7 as Pacers stun Thunder to keep championship dreams alive

BASKETBALL

THE Indiana Pacers, led by Cameroonian star Pascal Siakam, delivered a commanding 108-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, levelling the series at 3-3 and setting the stage for a thrilling winner-take-all Game 7. Siakam was instrumental in the Pacers' triumph, posting a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, including a highlight-reel dunk over Thunder defenders that electrified the home crowd and symbolised his relentless impact throughout the series. Despite the spotlight often shining on Tyrese Haliburton, who battled through a calf injury to contribute 14 points and five assists, Siakam's…

Jun

17

2025

By OLIVER OCHIENG, BIRD STORY AGENCY

African celebrities attend BAL finals in South Africa

BASKETBALL

SOUTH African rapper Lethabo Sebetso, popularly known as Focalistic, entertained the crowd as other entertainers, including Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Nomuzi, Khuli Chana, Robot Boii and Tbo Touch, followed the proceedings from the courtside. Former NBA players and stars were not left behind, as Al Ahli beat Angolan side Petro de Luanda 88-67 in a North versus South clash. Al Ahli went into the match as underdogs but eventually turned the tables on Petro de Luanda, in a classic case of debutants dethroning champions. Jean Jacques Boissy was named the tournament’s MVP after managing 12 points with two rebounds in the final,…

Jun

10

2025

By Jovial Rantao

APR and Petro de Luanda storm into BAL semifinals with dominant quarterfinal victories

BASKETBALL

TWO continental powerhouses punched their tickets to the Basketball Africa League semifinals Tuesday night, as Rwanda's APR demolished Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers 104-73 and defending champions Petro de Luanda of Angola overcame Tunisia's US Monastir 95-84 at SunBet Arena. APR's explosive offensive display left Rivers Hoopers reeling from the opening tip. The Rwandan squad shot a blistering 50 percent from three-point range and an even more impressive 62.5 percent from the field, turning what many expected to be a competitive quarterfinal into a 31-point rout. Nuni Omot spearheaded APR's balanced attack with 21 points, while Aliou Diarra dominated both ends of…

Jun

03

2025

By The African Mirror

Star-studded entertainment lineup set to electrify Basketball Africa League playoffs in Pretoria

BASKETBALL

THE Basketball Africa League has assembled an all-star entertainment roster featuring South Africa's biggest music acts to headline halftime performances during the 2025 BAL Playoffs and Finals at SunBet Arena from June 6-14. Multi-platinum rapper Cassper Nyovest will kick off the festivities on opening night, performing during Friday's high-stakes seeding game between Al Ahli Tripoli and Al Ittihad at 7:00 p.m. The Libyan squad, anchored by former NBA guard Jaylen Adams, faces Egypt's Al Ittihad, led by ex-NBA forward George King, in what promises to be an explosive opener both on and off the court. The entertainment firepower doesn't stop…

May

27

2025

By The African Mirror

BAL PLAYOFFS SET: Al Ahli dominates, APR survives thriller to complete eight-team field

BASKETBALL

THE Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs field is officially complete after two contrasting semifinal battles that showcased both dominant execution and clutch-time heroics, setting the stage for what promises to be an electrifying championship tournament at SunBet Arena. Al Ahli Tripoli delivered a masterclass in offensive efficiency, dismantling South Africa's MBB 102-73 in a performance that announced their arrival as legitimate title contenders. Meanwhile, APR of Rwanda survived a white-knuckle thriller against Kenya's Nairobi City Thunder, escaping with a 77-74 victory that came down to the final seconds and a spectacular three-pointer that will be replayed for years to come.…

May

24

2025

By The African Mirror

Al Ahli Tripoli secures BAL playoffs berth with commanding victory over Thunder

BASKETBALL

IN a scintillating display of offensive firepower at the BK Arena, Al Ahli Tripoli delivered a statement performance that reverberated throughout the Basketball Africa League, dismantling Nairobi City Thunder 104-91 to punch their ticket to the 2025 BAL Playoffs with authority. The Libyan powerhouse showcased the depth and versatility that has made them the most feared team in the Nile Conference, with five players reaching double figures in a balanced offensive assault that left Thunder scrambling for answers. This emphatic victory marked Al Ahli's fourth consecutive triumph, cementing their position as conference champions and earning them a coveted spot among…

May

22

2025

By The African Mirror

Miraculous comeback stuns thunder as OPONG’s buzzer-beater lifts MBB to first BAL victory

BASKETBALL

WITH just three seconds remaining and his team trailing by two points, Robinson Opong let fly a desperate three-pointer that silenced the BK Arena before sending the Made By Basketball bench into frenzied celebration. The dramatic 75-74 victory over Nairobi City Thunder marked South Africa's MBB franchise's first win in Basketball Africa League competition, completing an improbable 18-point second-half comeback that kept their playoff hopes alive. Pieter Prinsloo dominated the court with a monstrous 30-point, 11-rebound performance while Teafale Lenard Jr. delivered a complete game with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. But it was Opong's clutch shooting that…

May

18

2025

By The African Mirror

Al Ahli sets BAL scoring record in dominant win over Nairobi City Thunder

BASKETBALL

JEAN-Jacques Boissy scored 30 points, including 18 from behind the arc, while Jaylen Adams added 26 points and eight assists as Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) defeated Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya) 115-87 in the Basketball Africa League's (BAL) Nile Conference opener on the second day in Kigali, Rwanda. In the following game, APR (Rwanda) beat MBB (South Africa) 103-81. With their second consecutive victory, Al Ahli set a BAL record for most points in a single game and outrebounded Nairobi 50-41. Nairobi was led by Uchenna Iroegbu, who finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. APR's Aliou Diarra dominated…