May 5, 2023

The 2023 Nile Conference is coming to a close; What can happen on Friday, May 5?

On the day Petro de Luanda and Ferroviario da Beira play their last games of the 2023 Nile Conference in Cairo, there is a lot at stake.

Can Petro overcome Al Ahly in what could be their toughest test and win the Conference? Both teams remain undefeated, but Al Ahly have a game in hand.

How about Beira? Can the Mozambican champions win their third straight game and move a step closer to the Playoffs?

CAIRO, EGYPT - MAY 3: CFV - Beira Head Coach Luis Lopez Hernandez and Ismael Sousa Nurmamade #00 embrace after the game against the Cape Town Tigers on May 3, 2023 at the Dr. 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Armand Lenoir/NBAE via Getty Images)

Here is what can happen on Friday, May 5 in the Nile Conference:

PETRO v AL AHLY – 4:00 pm (Local Time); 10:00 am (ET)

This game will decide the 1st and 2nd place in the Nile Conference.

If Petro win and Al Ahly lose:
- Petro would be the undefeated 1st seed
- Al Ahly would still secure the 2nd seed because if they:
- beat SLAC Saturday, they would be 4-1, and no other team can achieve this record now;
- lose to SLAC Saturday, they will be 3-2, and while two teams could achieve this record – Beira (if they beat the Oilers Friday) or the Oilers (if they beat Beira Friday and Cape Town Saturday) – Al Ahly beat both teams head-to-head.

If Al Ahly win and Petro lose:
- Al Ahly would synch the 1st seed because if they:
beat SLAC Saturday, they would be undefeated (5-0);
- lose to SLAC Saturday, they would tie Petro 4-1, but having beat them Friday head-to-head, would remain in 1st
Petro (4-1) would synch the 2nd seed because Petro lost to them on head-to-head.

CITY OILERS v BEIRA – 7:30 pm (Local Time); 12:30 pm (ET)

If City Oilers win and Beira lose, the standings going into Saturday would be:
1st – winner of Petro vs. Al Ahly
2nd – loser of Petro vs. Al Ahly
3rd – Beira (2-3)
three-way tie (1-3):
4th Cape Town (1-0 against SLAC, playing Oilers Saturday)
5th SLAC (1-1 with win against Oilers, but loss against Cape Town)
6th Oilers (0-1 against SLAC, playing Cape Town Saturday)

If Beira win (3-2 scenario) and Oilers lose, the standings going into Saturday will be:
1st – winner of Petro vs. Al Ahly
2nd – loser of Petro vs. Al Ahly
3rd – Beira (3-2)
4th – Cape Town (1-3, beat SLAC head-to-head)
5th SLAC (1-3, lost to Cape Town head-to-head)
6th Oilers (0-4)