ABC v Kwara Falcons; REG v US Monastir (PREVIEW)

What’s interesting about Monday’s games in the Sahara Conference?

There’s a lot at stake when Abidjan Basket Club (ABC) take on Kwara Falcons and Rwanda Energy Group (REG) go up against reigning champions US Monastir.

In the first game of the day ABC (2-1) need to beat Kwara Falcons to solidify their place in the next round and avoid unnecessary calculations on the last day.

For the Nigerian champions (0-4), taking on ABC – a team they lost to during a pre-season scrimmage in Abidjan two weeks ago – will be a matter of pride and avoiding returning home empty-handed.

REG (3-1) became the first team to qualify for the playoffs next month in Kigali, while US Monastir (2-1) needs to return to their winning ways and relaunch their bid for a place in the elimination round.

Later in the day, there will be a rematch between the two teams that finished on top of the Sahara Conference in 2022.

When US Monastir and REG faced each other last year, the latter came up on top 77-74 in one of the most electrifying games of the Sahara Conference.

As the two teams gear up for their second meeting in the BAL on Monday, March 20, we look at the similarities and differences between the two teams:

Coach Dean Murray, who led REG to the 2021 Rwandan League title, but was unavailable for the 2022 BAL season, is back at the helm of REG.

US Monastir re-signed coach Modrag Perisic, who had a brief stint with Egyptian side Al Ettihad after guiding Monastir to the 2022 BAL title.

Just like Monastir, REG kept half of the squad from last year.

REG players from last year include: Adonis Filer, Dieudonne Ndizeye, Cleveland Thomas Jr., Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Ntore Habimana, and Pitchou Manga.

The Tunisian champions brought five players from last season, namely: Oussama Marnaoui, Houssem Mahemli, Firas Lahyani, Mohamed Ghayaza and Radhouane Slimane.

In the build-up to Monday’s Sahara Conference action this is what the standing look like: