April 28, 2025

Why can’t Harouna beat Petro de Luanda?

Abdoulaye Harouna has been one of the highlights of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) since the league's inception in 2021, but there is a historic unfinished business that continues to haunt his career year after year.

In each of the last four BAL seasons, Harouna has faced Petro de Luanda while playing for FAP (Cameroon), AS Sale (Cameroon), ABC Fighters, (Cote d'Ivoire) and AS Douanes (Senegal), and the results have been far from impressive for the Nigerien guard.

What is Petro de Luada doing to prevent Harouna from beating them?

Why is Harouna 0-4 against Petro de Luanda in the BAL? He hopes to beat Petro de Luanda one day.

In this article, we take a look at how 2024 All-BAL Defensive First Team nominee Harouna has fared against Petro de Luanda over four seasons and ask him to reflect on his historic record against the Angolan champions.

*Amadou Abdoulaye Harouna #10 of Forces Armees et Police Basketball shoots against Childe Dundao #5 of Atlético Petróleos de Luanda during the first half at Kigali Arena on May 20, 2021*

May 20, 2021, BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda.
Group Phase

Abdoulaye Harouna (FAP) vs Petro de Luanda

FG (5/20), 3PT (2/9), ASSIST (4), TO (5), STL (1) PF (4), PTS (17), RBD (6), FT (5/6), EFF (7), Time (31 minutes)

Petro de Luanda win 66-64.

*Abdoulaye Haruna #10 of the AS Salé drives to the basket during the game against the Clube Atlético Petroleos de Luanda on May 21, 2022 at the BK Arena in Kigali.*

May 21, 2022, BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda.
Quarterfinals

Abdoulaye Harouna (AS Sale) vs Petro de Luanda

FG (8/16), 3PT (4/10), ASSIST (1), TO (3), STL (4) PF (3), PTS (20), RBD (4), FT (0/5), EFF (13), Time (37 minutes)

Petro de Luanda win 102-89.

*Harouna Amadou #10 of ABC Fighters protects the ball during the game against the Petro de Luanda on May 21, 2023 at the BK Arena in Kigali.*

May 21, 2023, BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda.
Quarterfinals

Abdoulaye Harouna (ABC Fighters) vs Petro de Luanda

FG (2/14), 3PT (2/10), 2PT (0/4) ASSIST (3), TO (4), STL (3) PF (3), PTS (10), RBD (7), FT (4/6), EFF (5), Time (35 minutes)

Petro de Luanda win 88-84.

*Abdoulaye Harouna #10 of the A.S. Douanes handles the ball during the game against the Petro de Luanda during the 2024 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on May 27, 2024 at BK Arena in Kigali.*

May 27, 2024, BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda.
Quarterfinals

Abdoulaye Harouna (As Douanes) vs Petro de Luanda

FG (4/16), 3PT (3/12), 2PT (1/4) ASSIST (5), TO (4), STL (4) PF (4), PTS (15), RBD (3), FT (4/6), EFF (9), Time (37 minutes)

Petro de Luanda win 66-65.

Abdoulaye Harouna has averaged 15.5 points per game in his last four games against Petro de Luanda.

BAL.NBA.COM. What made you change clubs in the last five BAL seasons?

HAROUNA. I never really had the opportunity to go back to the team I played for the previous season, except for FAP, but the [team's] budget was the problem. They couldn't afford me.

After that, every other season… AS Sale didn't play in the third season, ABC didn't play in the fourth season, and AS Douanes didn't play in the fifth season. That's why I changed teams. The BAL continues to grow as you can see on social media, TV, everyone is excited.

BAL.NBA.COM. What does the name Petro de Luanda mean to you?

HAROUNA. I lost to them three times [it's, four, including the first season in 2021] and that's still in my mind.

BAL.NBA.COM. How does it feel to lose to Petro de Luanda every time you play them?

HAROUNA. Terrible.

BAL.NBA.COM. Does losing to Petro de Luanda give you extra motivation to do better next time?

HAROUNA. Of course it does. They beat me with FAP, Sale, ABC…

BAL.NBA.COM. What is it about Petro de Luanda that they always beat your teams?

HAROUNA. I don't know. In BAL Season 2, with Sale, it wasn't even a close game, but Season 1 (FAP) I feel like I was fouled in the last possession, if you look at it. ABC, same thing, I stole the ball from [Carlos] Morais. Then last year ….

BAL.NBA.COM. You now have two chances to beat Petro de Luanda twice here in Dakar.

HAROUNA. Yes, I am going for it.