Nairobi City Thunder book ticket to Basketball Africa League
Tylor Ongwae (left) of Nairobi City Thunder dribbles the ball under pressure from Cello Chirombe of Ferroviario da Beira during their semi final match of the Elite 16 (East Division) qualifiers of 2026 Basketball Africa League.
What you need to know:
- Against Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira, City Thunder, coached by Bradley Ibs, went for the kill right from the tip-off.
- The win came after Thunder’s strong group-stage displays, including a hard-fought 86-83 win over Johannesburg Giants.
Home team Nairobi City Thunder will face South Africa’s Johannesburg Giants in a highly anticipated final of Elite 16 (East Division) qualifiers of 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) at the Kasarani Indoor Arena on Sunday.
The showdown promises high drama, given that both teams have qualified for 2026 BAL tournament by virtue of reaching the final of the qualifiers.
Inspired by USA-born Kenyan, Albert Odero, City Thunder sealed their place in the final with a commanding 109-70 victory over Mozambique’s Ferroviario da Beira in the second semi-final match, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as the Kenyan side fought to secure a second straight BAL appearance.
City Thunder, coached by Bradley Ibs, went for the kill right from the tip-off, enjoying a 52-32 halftime lead after bagging the first two quarters 22-12 and 30-20, respectively. Odero scored 26 points in the first half and finished the match with a game-high 32 points.
City Thunder won the third quarter 31-16 and, although they lost the fourth quarter 22-26, they had done enough damage to carry the day.
Odero’s team-mates Lance Robert Thomas, Eugene Adera, Ater Majok, David Kongor, and Tylor Ongwae, also reached double digits. Beira’s best scorers, Ismael Nurmamade and Hassan Drame, contributed 13 points each.
The win came after Thunder’s strong group-stage displays, including an 89-62 dismantling of Uganda’s Namuwongo Blazers and a hard-fought 86-83 triumph over Johannesburg in Group 'A'.
The first semi-final match played on Saturday delivered one of the tournament’s most gripping contests. Johannesburg Giants, considered pre-tournament favourites, recovered from a sluggish 13-21 opening quarter to edge Tanzania’s Dar City Basketball Team 71-69 in a nervy finish.
Okall Koranga (centre) of Nairobi City Thunder fights for the ball with Joshua Thomas of Ferroviario da Beira during their semi final match of the Elite 16 (East Division) qualifiers of 2026 Basketball Africa League.
The South Africans wrestled back control of the match through persistent defending and steady offensive executions, outscoring Dar 21-18, 20-14 and 17-16 in the remaining three quarters in a match that witnessed five lead changes.
Dar’s Nisre Zouzoua was the stand-out performer of the evening, pouring in a game-high 25 points in a valiant effort. He was ably supported by Solo Diabate and Raphiael Putney, who contributed 14 points each, while Deng Angok Yak Deng added 10.
Despite their efforts, Dar fell agonizingly short against a Johannesburg side fuelled by double-digit displays from Nino Dim (21), Dhieu Abwok Deing (16) and Joshua Ozabor (14).
Both Thunder and Johannesburg secured automatic qualification to the 2026 Basketball Africa League by virtue of reaching the East Division final.
They now join a star-studded cast of already-qualified teams, namely Cub Africain (Tunisia), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Al Ahly (Egypt), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), FUS Rabat (Morocco), Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), hosts APR (Rwanda), and reigning champions Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya).
The final will now act as a monumental moment for Thunder, who made history as the first Kenyan club to reach BAL during the 2024–2025 season.
Victory on Sunday would further cement the team's growing reputation. The 2026 BAL champions will also secure a prized slot at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, raising the stakes even higher.
Before the final, Dar City and Ferroviario da Beira will battle for bronze in what promises to be a thrilling contest as the curtain falls on the Nairobi tournament.
