The Sahara Conference of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) fourth season tips off on Saturday, May 4, in the Senegalese city of Dakar with two matches on the opening day.
2022 champions, US Monastir will open the conference against Rwanda’s APR, while host AS Douanes will tackle Nigeria’s representative at the tournament, Rivers Hoopers.
It would be AS Douanes’ third BAL outing while the Hoopers will be competing in the tournament for the second time as they make a return for the first time since the maiden edition in 2021.
When is the game between AS Douanes and Rivers Hoopers?
Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers will take on Senegalese side AS Douanes, who were runners-up last season, on Saturday, May 4, at the Dakar Arena, with the game scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. (Nigerian time).
📝Game Day 🏀
🎗️ Sahara Conference
🔖 ASD 🆚 @RiversHoopers
📅 Saturday May 4, 2024
🕔 5:30 p.m. G.M.T
🏟️ Dakar Arena Stadium #asdouanesbasket #asdouanes🇸🇳#BAL4 pic.twitter.com/zg3UKodjDH— AS Douanes SN (@asdouanesbasket) May 4, 2024
Historical perspective: AS Douanes vs Rivers Hoopers
These two sides have never met at the BAL, which means this would be their first-ever meeting in the tournament.
In the competition, Douanes are the more experienced team of the two, as they are participating in their third appearance at the tournament compared to Hoopers’ second.
They played a total of 12 games in their two previous seasons at the BAL, boasting six wins and six losses.
In the 2021 edition, Douanes played four games—three in the group stages and one in the playoffs—and they won one and lost three, crashing out in the quarterfinals. In their most recent outing in 2023, they played eight games, winning five and losing three, including suffering a defeat in the final to Al Ahly.
The Rivers Hoopers, on the other hand, have only previously played three games at the BAL. In 2021, they won one and lost two, failing to make it to the playoffs. The King’s Men hold the record of being the first and only Nigerian team to win a game at the BAL.
Notable players to watch
AS Douanes: Jean Jacques Boissy (Guard); Alkaly Ndour (Guard); Adama Diakhite (Center)
Rivers Hoopers: Devine Eke (Forward); Will Perry (Guard); Kelvin Amayo (Guard)
Coaches
AS Douanes: Pabi Gueye
Rivers Hoopers: Ogoh Odaudu
How to watch AS Douanes vs Rivers Hoopers game
You can watch the Sahara Conference game between AS Douanes and Rivers Hoopers LIVE on Afrosport TV, channel 730 on Free TV anywhere in Nigeria.
Anyone in Nigeria can also watch the game on the go via Afrosport’s streaming link for FREE…Stream the game LIVE on the VIDIVU online portal.
