Kenyan champions Nairobi City Thunder’s quest for Basketball Africa League (BAL) title will be anchored on players who have played together for long spells.
Thunder’s team manager, Bernet Ojay, has indicated that his side has only engaged three foreign players for BAL, and local players forming the bulk of his team in a move aimed at ensuring team chemistry.
Thunder will make a second appearance in BAL Kalahari Conference from March 27 to April 5 this year at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.
The Kenyan champions will open play in the tournament against Petro de Luanda from Angola, Johannesburg Giants from South Africa, Al Ahly from Libya, and Dar City from Tanzania.
Thunder have signed up Americans Shaheed “Heed” Davis (small forward) and American Lance Thomas (power forward), and Nigerian player Josh Nzeakor (power forward) for BAL.
Nzeakor and Thomas who is returning to the team for BAL, featured in BAL Elite contest last year, have been playing for the team in 2026 Kenya Basketball Federation (KBL) Men’s Premier League.
Thunder will take a break from the local league where they won 66th consecutive match on Friday, beating the University of Nairobi’s Terrorists 95-74 to stay top of the 12-team table of standing with 10 points.
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.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Ojay said that the move to retain the bulk of the squad is key to their ambition of reaching the knock-out stage of BAL.
“To reinforce our attack, we signed up the forwards. They have already settled down well in the squad. Thomas is already conversant with our systems, but we also have a squad of local players who have played together for long whom we will rely on at the tournament,” Ojay said on March 15.
Thunder’s title ambitions will rest on the shoulders of captain Tylor Ongwae, Eugene Adera, Albert Odero, Ariel Okall and South Sudan’s Garang Ding.
Versatile power forward Davis brings extensive international experience to the team as he has played in more than 19 countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, including stints in Bulgaria, Italy, Israel, Japan, and most recently in Thailand with Crypto Cobra.
Thomas and Nzeakor join power forwards Okall and Bramwel Muchina in the team, while Davis will be supported by Ongwae and Faheem Juma.
Nzeakor made his BAL debut in 2021 with Mali’s AS Police. He now hopes to use his vast experience to push City Thunder to the title.
Davis, who played for Thunder in Elite 16 stage of the qualifiers held in Nairobi, said: “I’m excited to play in front of you and help push the club forward.”
History-making City Thunder have won the KBL Premier League the past two seasons unbeaten - in 2024 and in 2025. They were also unbeaten in the “Road to BAL qualifiers” both in 2024, and last November in Nairobi. They are the only Kenyan side to ever play in BAL.
“This team has been playing together for a few years now, bringing the best out of each other. There is confidence in the squad. We have more to prove,” Ongwae observed on March 15.
Nairobi City Thunder's Eugene Adera (left) goes for a basket against Johannesburg Giants' Sandile Sibanyoni during East Africa Champions Clubs Road to Basketball Africa League qualifiers at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Gymnasium, on November 23, 2025
“Our good run in the league confirms our dominance as we fine-tune for BAL… we have gained the needed exposure and we are much wiser. We hope for better results this time round,” said Ojay.
City Thunder are unbeaten in five outings in the local this season, while Stanbic Bank Shields are second on seven points from two wins and three losses. Equity Bank Dumas are third with equal number of points and counts.
In the women’s Premier League, defending champions Kenya Port Authority (KPA) upheld their unbeaten run on March 15, downing Stanbic Bank Aces 65-47 on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium.
KPA women are the only side yet to lose a match in the women’s league. They are third with six points drawn from three wins, and trail leaders Equity Bank Hawks and Stanbic Aces, both of whom have seven points. Hawks have four wins and one loss, while Aces have three wins and a loss.
KPA’s coach, Mitch Ocholla, hopes his side can retain the title unbeaten.
