What’s at stake on penultimate day of the Nile Conference?

The 2022 Nile Conference is fast approaching its end, but there are still four games to play in Cairo.

So, what’s at stake on the penultimate day of the Conference?

For three of the four teams taking to the floor on Monday, it’s all about launching their last shots for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs next month in Kigali.

The first two teams to take to the floor on Monday face different realities.

Petro de Luanda have won three of their four games in Cairo, and have secured their spot in the playoffs, while Espoir Fukash face a do-or-die situation.

Espoir Fukash, who lost all their three games so far, must beat the former African champions to keep their BAL aspirations alive.

CAN FUKASH UPSET PETRO DE LUANDA?

Beating Petro is a tall task for the DR Congo champions, but  not impossible.

If Fukash can maintain the same rhythm and attitude that they used to challenge Zamalek on Saturday night, they will give themselves a chance.

Against Zamalek, Espoir Fukash looked fearless, competitive, and more importantly, they recorded their highest field-goal (46 percent) in the Nile so far.

Espoir Fukash head coach Raven Khonde praised his team’s effort against BAL reigning champions Zamalek, and promised to keep fighting for every possession to make their playoffs’ aspiration a reality when they take on Petro de Luanda.

However, the question that Khonde and his team may have to answer against Petro de Luanda is how they intend to protect the perimeter line, which is Petro de Luanda’s most lethal weapon.

If Espoir Fukash can stop Petro from spacing out their game and prevent wide open shots, they might have a chance to compete against a team that self-proclaim as BAL title contenders.

“It’s not over yet,” said Petro de Luanda center Yanick Moreira.

“Our goal as a team is to try to many every game. We lost to Zamalek, but that hasn’t deterred our mindset.”

One weapon Espoir Fukash can use against Petro de Luanda is their assistant coach Emmanuel Mavomo, who has worked in Angolan basketball as a member of the national team coaching staff under Will Voigt (current Zamalek head coach).

FUKASH'S WEAPONS TO UPSET PETRO

Mavomo, who only made his Fukash debut on Saturday against Zamalek, has faced Petro in the inaugural season of the BAL while serving as assistant coach for Rwandan outfit Patriots BB in the Third-Place game.

Fukash’s other weapon against Petro could be shooting guard Rolly Fula.

The 6-foot-6 guard leads his team in scoring with 18 points per game, and gave Zamalek some discomfort after finishing with a 10-for-25 shooting.

Childe Dundao, Carlos Morais and Aboubacar Gakou are vital for Petro de Luanda, although Jose Neto’s strongest asset is their depth where any reserve player can step up at any given night and contribute.

“We are built for moments like,” insisted Moreira.

If Espoir Fukash lose to Petro on Monday, it might be end of the 2022 BAL season for them as they would drop to 0-4.

DO-OR-DIE SCENARIO FOR COBRA SPORTS

In the second game of the day, Cobra Sports will play their last game of the Nile Conference when they square off against FAP.

The South Sudan champions are 1-3, making this a must-win clash for them to remain in the playoffs race.

But FAP aren’t in a different situation although the Cameroonian champions are 1-2 with two games remaining.

“We look forward to winning the next game,” said Cobra Sports head coach Manyang Berberi.

“Our hope is still up to qualify, that’s a must-win game for us. We know after losing today’s game [against Cape Town], that’s a must-win game. If we don’t win that game we don’t go through. We are going to come in very determined to win that game.”

FAP’s leading scorer Joel Almeida, who averaged 15 points in their first three games, echoed the team’s mindset ahead of the clash against Cobra Sports.

He said: “Right now we just need to focus on our next match against Cobra Sports, which will be decisive to our qualification, that’s what we came here for."

"I believe in this team, the team staff put us in the right position, and, we’ll fight to achieve our objective.”

If Cobra Sports lose their last game in the Nile on Monday, they drop to 1-4, and it might compromise their playoffs hopes given that FAP, Espoir Fukash and Cape Town Tigers have still games to  play.