The Nile Conference of the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season came to an end on Sunday at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, as hosts APR joined Al Ahli Tripoli in securing an automatic spot in the playoffs, Afrosport reports.
Obadiah Noel hit a game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds left on the clock to help APR avoid overtime and rally to a 77-74 win over the Nairobi City Thunder in front of over 6000 fans.
APR takes the win and locks in 2nd place in the Nile Conference!
They’re heading to the BAL Playoffs after a game winner with 3 seconds left on the clock!
#BAL5 pic.twitter.com/J24xEebXZT
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 25, 2025
The Thunder were up by 10 heading into the halftime break, and with APR needing a huge second half, their biggest names rose to the occasion, as center Aliou Diarra finished with a near triple-double of 22 points, 17 rebounds, and eight blocks.
Youssoupha Ndoye had 18 points and eight rebounds for the hosts, Noel poured in 16 points off the bench, and along with dishing out a game-high five dimes, Chasson Randle had 11 points.
Nairobi City, on the other hand, was propelled by a game-high 29 points from Albert Odero, their only starter in double figures. Uchenna Iroegbu scored 16 points, and William Davis II finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
INTSINZI!
APR finishes second in the Nile Conference, clinching their spot in the BAL Playoffs in front of their home crowd!
See you in Pretoria!#BAL5 pic.twitter.com/85RWo3a4mP
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 25, 2025
Meanwhile, Al Ahli Tripoli secured a 102-73 blowout win over South Africa’s Made by Ball Basketball (MBB), clinching the top spot in the Nile Conference with an unbeaten 6-0 record.
UNDEFEATED!
Alahli SCruns the table! 6-0 and the top seed locked in the Nile Conference.
On to the playoffs…— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 25, 2025
The Libyan side dominated the contest, winning every quarter, with American point guard Jaylen Adams pouring in a game-high 28 points and six 3-pointers in 33 minutes.
Jean Jacques Boissy continued his impressive run off the bench with a 17-point, five-rebound, and four 3-pointer performance, while Assem Marei finished with an 18-point and 10-rebound double-double.
MBB, meanwhile, gave a good account of themselves in their first BAL outing. Teafale Lenard Jr. led the South Africans with 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while Pieter Prinsloo and Jovan Mooring combined for 21 points in a losing effort for the debutants.
Final standings of the Nile Conference!
Al Ahly
APR
Who’s taking the chip in Pretoria?
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 25, 2025
Both Al Ahli Tripoli and APR have booked a spot in the BAL playoffs, slated to take place at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, from 6-14 June.
