Al Ahly top 2026 Sahara Conference after double OT win over FUS Rabat

Al Ahly needed an extra ten minutes to beat FUS Rabat 76–71 and top the 2026 Sahara Conference.

This was the second game of the 2026 BAL season to be decided in overtime, and the second in BAL history to be decided in double overtime.

Following a 57-57 score at the end of regulation and a 63-63 tie in the first overtime, Al Ahly forced FUS Rabat into three turnovers in the final five minutes to finally secure victory.

Al Ahly finished top of the conference with a 4–1 win–loss record, while FUS Rabat finished third with a 3–2 record.

Zack Lofton and Malek Abdelgoward both scored 17 points to lead the Egyptian champions.

FUS Rabat's 22 turnovers compared to Al Ahly's 13 were a significant factor in the outcome of the game.

The last time Al Ahly and FUS Rabat met in the BAL was in the 2024 seeding round of the playoffs in Kigali, where the Moroccan champions prevailed 89-78. 

Therefore, winning their 2026 Sahara Conference encounter mattered not only for ranking purposes, but also for the head-to-head history between these two North African giants.

The signs of a hard-fought game emerged when the two sides ended the opening quarter tied at 10–10, and reached halftime tied at 24–24. 

Although uncertainty hung in the air, Al Ahly used a strong third quarter to establish a 11-point lead, which FUS Rabat quickly erased by outscoring their opponents 19-11 and forcing the first overtime. 

The two sides traded blows throughout the additional ten minutes, but FUS Rabat shot themselves in the foot by turning the ball over seven times during this period.

When Kuany Atem Kuany fouled out in the first overtime, FUS Rabat found it even more difficult to keep up with Al Ahly.

Despite Mouhamadou Diagne's efforts, swatting six Al Ahly shots, grabbing rebounds and scoring five points, he had little or no impact on Al Ahly’s mission to finish top of the 2026 Sahara Conference.

Another factor hindering FUS Rabat’s chances was Al Ahly’s 22 offensive rebounds, which they capitalised on by running the clock with masterful intelligence and scoring when possible. 

Even the packed Moulay Abdellah arena, mostly filled with FUS Rabat fans, could not stop the 2023 BAL champions. 

With their leading scorer, Kevin Murphy, sitting out for the second game in a row, Lofton and Abdelgowad emerged as their main scoring options, combining for 34 points. 

Former FUS Rabat star player Johnathan Jordan added 10 points off the bench for Al Ahly, while Mohamed Khalaf proved equally vital, also scoring 10 points off the bench.  

Anthony Pritchard led FUS Rabat with a team-high 14 points off the bench.

Will Perry, Soufiane Benmhine, Badr Azouga and Kuany Kuany all scored in double figures, finishing with 12, 11, 10 and 10 points respectively.

The 57–57 result at the end of regulation was the lowest in any BAL game this season.

WHAT THEY SAID

Amr Gendy, Al Ahly

"We knew it was going to be a difficult game, not only because of the crowd, but also because FUS have been playing really well, even without their injured players. We also had a few injuries. The whole team contributed to this win."

"We are really pleased to have finished top of the conference, which was our main goal in coming to Rabat. Now, we need to maintain this winning momentum in the playoffs in Kigali. But first, we have the 2026 Egyptian finals, which start this week.”

Mouhamadou Diagne, FUS Rabat

"We played well and did everything we could, but we made mistakes that cost us the game. It was really hard to force two overtimes — this Al Ahly team is very good. Credit to them for the win and for their performance here in Rabat." 

"We really need to work on turnovers and free throws for the playoffs, but I am sure the coaching staff will devise a plan to improve the team’s collective effort." 

"We very much appreciated the energy and boost that the crowd gave us throughout this past week in Rabat. It was an amazing experience to have a packed stadium cheering us on, even when we weren't playing well."

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