The fifth season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) got off to an exciting start on Saturday, with Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers claiming a convincing 81-60 victory over Stade Malien of Mali at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sporting Complex in Morocco.
The opening game of the season had a slow and scrappy beginning, but Rivers Hoopers eventually found their rhythm and pulled away in the later stages. The win marks a positive start for the Nigerian side, who finished third in last year’s tournament, but their performance showed they still have room for improvement.
The game began with Stade Malien taking control early on, leading 23-16 by the end of the first quarter. The Malian team, led by Mahamane Coulibaly’s impressive 12 points in the first quarter, seemed more organized than their Nigerian opponents. Coulibaly continued to be a force throughout the game, finishing as the top scorer with 20 points.
Rivers Hoopers, on the other hand, appeared jittery and struggled to find their flow early on, a common challenge for teams playing in the opening game of a major tournament. Despite the slow start, Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu remained optimistic, attributing the team’s first-quarter struggles to the nerves of playing in the season opener.
In his post-match press conference, Odaudu stated, “I think what happened in the first quarter was just the jitters of the first game… It was a good thing that we got our act together when we were supposed to. We are not playing at the level that we want to play at right now.”
The second quarter saw a marked improvement in Rivers Hoopers’ performance. They quickly found their rhythm and, within the first two minutes of the quarter, a left hook from Canadian Kelvin Amayo put the team ahead 24-23. Despite a timeout from Stade Malien to regroup, the game saw several lead changes as both teams exchanged points back and forth.
One of the key turning points in the second quarter was the strong performance of American player Raphiael Putney. After a slow start, Putney, a veteran of the NBA’s G League, came back on the court with renewed energy. His performance on both ends of the floor played a significant role in helping Rivers Hoopers take a 41-35 lead at halftime.
After the break, Rivers Hoopers continued to dominate, especially in the third quarter. The Nigerian side extended their lead to 62-47, with Amayo, Putney, Madut Akec, and Peter Olisemeka proving too much for Stade Malien to handle.
Amayo was especially strong, finishing with 19 points, while Akec contributed 16 points. Putney, who had found his rhythm in the second quarter, ended the game with 14 points, providing the veteran presence that the team needed. Shamba Maxi Munanga also contributed significantly, scoring 11 points to become the fourth Rivers Hoopers player to reach double digits in scoring.
The final quarter was largely one-sided, with Rivers Hoopers firmly in control of the game. Their defensive effort in the second half stifled Stade Malien’s attempts to get back into the contest, as the Nigerian side cruised to an 81-60 victory.
Olisemeka was a standout player for Rivers Hoopers, leading the team in rebounds with 12 boards. Akec also had an impressive game, finishing with a double-double, securing 11 rebounds in addition to his 16 points. On the other side, Stade Malien’s Mouhamed Doumbya was one of the top performers for the Malians, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to turn the tide for his team.
Though it wasn’t a flawless performance, Rivers Hoopers showed enough quality to take control of the game in the second half and secure a crucial win in their opening match of the BAL season. Coach Odaudu was pleased with the outcome but acknowledged that there is still room for improvement.
Rivers Hoopers will face a tougher test in their next match as they prepare to take on FUS Rabat, the hosts of the Kalahari Conference, on Sunday. FUS Rabat will be coming off a 71-60 defeat to Al Ittihad, and they will likely be looking to bounce back in front of their home fans. The Nigerian side will need to improve on their performance if they are to continue their winning ways and progress in the tournament.
The team’s win over Stade Malien has shown that they are still a formidable force in African basketball, but their coach and players will be hoping to fine-tune their performance before facing more challenging opponents.
Rivers Hoopers’ opening victory is a reminder of their ambition for this year’s BAL season. After finishing in third place last season, the team is eager to go further this time around, and they are determined to build on the momentum from their win over Stade Malien.
As the tournament progresses, the Hoopers will aim to bring their best game to every match, with the hope of clinching the title this season. However, with several strong teams in the competition, they will need to stay focused and continue improving to achieve their goal.
The 2023-2024 Basketball Africa League season promises to be a thrilling one, with Rivers Hoopers set to play a significant role in the competition. With their solid start and a lot of potential left to tap into, the Nigerian team could very well make a deep run in the tournament.
