After qualifying for the conference stage of the prestigious Basketball Africa League (BAL) for their first time last year, Nairobi City Thunder have set their sights on reaching the play-off finals.
Founded in 2019 and jointly organised by NBA Africa and the International Basketball Federation, BAL is the premier men’s basketball league for clubs in Africa. The qualifiers of the 2026 tournament start this month.
Kenya men’s league champions Nairobi City Thunder are among eight teams that will play in BAL East Division Elite 16 final from November 18 to 23 at the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Last year, City Thunder won the East Division Elite 16 final after beating Kriol Star from Cape Verde 99-86 at Kasarani to qualify for the Nile Conference finals. BAL has three Conferences - Nile, Kalahari and Sahara.
City Thunder exited the competition after finishing fourth in Nile Conference behind Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya, APR of Rwanda and South Africa’s MBB. City Thunder are looking to reach the conference stage, and to finish among the two top teams so as to qualify for the final play-offs. Eight teams - the top two from each conference and the two best finishers from the conferences - will qualify for BAL final play-offs.
Albert Odero (left) of Nairobi City Thunder charges past Ali Lahrichi of Kriols Stars during a Group ‘A’ match in the East Division qualifiers for Basketball Africa League at Nyayo National Stadium on November 30, 2024.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
City Thunder and Johannesburg Giants have been exempted from the East Division Elite 16 first-round qualification.
Nairobi City Thunder captain Tylor Ongwae has said winning only one match out of six in the Conference stage on their debut in the tournament was a humbling experience.
“I was one of the new players in the team last year, and it took us time to blend,” said Ongwae, adding that the team will not have such challenges this year. The players understand each other better, having trained together for 15 months.
Ongwae reckons that his three new teammates have been integrated into the team and are ready for the championship. Nairobi City Thunder have signed up Kenyan international Bram Muchina from Kenya Ports Authority, Lance Thomas from United States of America and Chase Adams, an American from BAL Academy who finished as the Most Valuable Player in 2024 BAL Combine.
“These are players with high-level skills, and that is why they have adapted quickly to our game,” said Ogwae. But the team must first get past the East Division Elite 16 stage. He desires a more intensive local league. “In Europe, I used to play between 65 and 70 matches in 10 months, but here, I am playing 30 matches in 13 months. We can do better to produce quality,” Ongwae, who has played for clubs in Sweden, Italy, and in Switzerland, said.
Dismas Onsongo of Nairobi City Thunder goes for a lay-up against Darius Matere (left) Kenyatta University Pirates during a past Kenya Basketball Federation men's premier league match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
The team’s coach, Bradley Ibs said he found it challenging to integrate some of his new players into the team during Nile Conference matches last year.
“The main thing is that we wanted to stay true to our team identity, but we have now done enough research on the new players we now have,” said Ibs. He says winning the local league title for the second season unbeaten was a necessary step ahead for the team ahead of the East Division Elite 16 final.
