April 24, 2024

Second Round of the 2024 Nile Conference set to resume

The second round of the 2024 Nile Conference resumes on Wednesday, April 24 with the four contenders set to make their final shots to try to reach the playoffs in May in Kigali.

After six games, countless highlights and jaw-dropping individual performances, hosts Al Ahly SC enter this stage of the league with a flawless 3-0 mark.

Libyan champions Ah Ahly Ly rank second with a 2-1 record and Bangui Sporting Club are third at 1-2.

At the bottom of the conference, City Oilers are yet to record their first win after three games.

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 22: Billy Kamayengue #00 of the Bangui Sporting Club dribbles the ball during the game against the Al Ahly during the Nile Conference Group play for the 2024 Basketball Africa League season on April 22, 2024 at Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Matthieu Metivet/NBAE via Getty Images)

In Wednesday’s first game, Bangui Sporting Club face Al Ahly Ly at 17:00 (local time). Three hours later, City Oilers go up against the BAL reigning champions Al Ahly SC.

When Al Ahly Ly and Bangui SC faced off in the first round, the Libyans came up on top with a 93-71.

In that game, three Al Ahly Ly players – led by sharp-shooter Kevin Murphy – finished with 20 points or more each while Rolly Fula led Bangui SC with 19 points.

If Bangui SC are to win their second game of the season, they will need to protect their perimeter line better and prevent the Libyan champions from going on a scoring spree that they allowed in their first encounter.

In game 1, Al Ahly Ly led by 26 in the one-sided affair that registered only 2 lead changes early on.

OILERS DESPERATELY NEED TO BOUNCE BACK

The Oilers have been in this 0-3 situation before, but can they bounce back and record their first win in the conference?

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 22: Fayed Baale #1 of the City Oilers dribbles the ball during the game against the Al Ahly Ly during the Nile Conference Group play for the 2024 Basketball Africa League season on April 22, 2024 at Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Regis Hirwa/NBAE via Getty Images)

Last season, at the very Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo, City Oilers started the BAL season 3 with three straight losses – including a 72-70 setback against Al Ahly SC –, but a 96-75 win over Ferroviario da beira came as a sigh of relief.

“We don’t want to be in that position,” recalls Oilers guard Fayed Baale who witnessed the Ugandan champions record their first-ever win in the league last year.

“All we have to do is to stay together, fight as a team and anything can happen.”

Baale went on to say: “It’s not over yet. We still have three more games and we can win all the games. My teammates are a bit down, but we just have to keep positive. You never know what happens in the future.”

“We are fully aware that we are the team to beat,” said Al Ahly SC center Omar Oraby, adding: “We are ready to protect our home court.”

Al Ahly SC will look to improve their BAL home record to 8-1.

As we write no team is officially qualified to the next round, however, this might not the case at the end of Wednesday’s games.