High-flying Rivers Hoopers will be in action later today (Tuesday) against Tunisia’s US Monastir in Day 3 of the Basketball Africa League’s (BAL) Sahara Conference ongoing at the Dakar Arena in Senegal.
The King’s Men have enjoyed a 100-percent start in their return to the BAL, having beaten AS Douanes and APR in their first two games, and they currently sit atop the conference. US Monastir, on the other hand, has endured a contrasting start to their opponent as they lost their first two games to wallow in the bottom of the conference.
Having already etched their names in the tournament’s history books, the Rivers Hoopers are close to setting more records as a win against Monastir helps them secure a place in the playoffs, thereby making them the first Nigerian team to do so.
Game Day 3!!!
Set your time, 5pm Nigerian time we face 2022 champions US Monastir. They come into this game with a 0-2 while we are on a 2-0 record.
Let’s go Hoopers!!!!!#TheBAL #BAL4#TheKingsMen #HoopersNation pic.twitter.com/FedgeEZBj9
— Rivers Hoopers (@RiversHoopers) May 7, 2024
When is the game between US Monastir and Rivers Hoopers?
The Rivers Hoopers, will go up against US Monastir of Tunisia on Tuesday, May 7, at the Dakar Arena, with the game scheduled to kick off at 5:00 p.m. (Nigerian time).
Historical perspective: US Monastir and Rivers Hoopers
Today’s game will mark the second time these two teams will be facing each other at the BAL and the first time they will match up in the Sahara Conference.
The only other time they locked horns in the competition was in its maiden edition in 2021, when Monastir secured a 99-70 blowout win over the Hoopers in Group A.
US Monastir are the most experienced team in the BAL, as they have been present at all four editions of the tournament, including this season. They have enjoyed the most success in the competition, finishing second in 2021 before winning the 2022 edition. However, in the last edition, they finished fifth in the Sahara Conference and failed to progress to the playoffs.
The Tunisian champions are no strangers to Nigerian sides at the BAL, as this will be the third time that they will be up against one, having previously faced the Hoopers once and the Kwara Falcons (2023).
Meanwhile, the Rivers Hoopers will be playing their sixth game in the tournament, and they boast a 3-2 record having won three games, including their first two in this edition.
The King’s Men could make more history at the BAL, as a win in this game will see them become the first Nigerian team at the tournament to win three straight games.
Results from previous games
US Monastir
APR 89 – 84 US Monastir
AS Douanes 76 – 59 US Monastir
Rivers Hoopers
AS Douanes 68 – 77 Rivers Hoopers
APR 82 – 86 Rivers Hoopers
📊 Check out the standings after 2 days at the #BAL4 Sahara conference! Our players take a well-deserved break today and return tomorrow for day 3. Stay tuned! 🏀💥 pic.twitter.com/IL0QavVMml
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 6, 2024
Notable players to watch
US Monastir: Marcus Christopher (Guard); Oussama Marnaoui (Forward); George Attitebi (Guard)
Rivers Hoopers: Devine Eke (Forward); Will Perry (Guard); Kelvin Amayo (Guard)
Coaches
US Monastir: Munir Mohamed El-Kirdani
Rivers Hoopers: Ogoh Odaudu
How to watch the US Monastir vs Rivers Hoopers game
You can catch the Sahara Conference Day 3 action between US Monastir (Tunisia) and Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) 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.
