Six-time Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers have arrived in Lagos to continue their preparations for the fifth season of the Basketball Africa League, which tips off with Conference Playoffs on Saturday, April 5.
The KingsMen will be involved in some friendly games before departing for Rabat, Morocco on Wednesday. They are drawn in the Kalahari Conference alongside FUS Rabat of Morocco, Egypt’s Al Ittihad, and Stade Malien of Mali.
Rivers Hoopers will open their campaign against Stade Malien on Saturday, April 5. Ahead of their final phase of preparations, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Sports, Kelvin Nweke, has charged the team to surpass their third-place finish in last season’s BAL.
“On behalf of the ministry and the state government, we are promising you the best of support,” Nweke said in Port Harcourt on Sunday. “We are expecting you to go a step forward from last year’s result. Success is not easy. It is easy to get to the top, but staying at the top is more difficult.”
The team has completed the signing of five players ahead of the new season. Canada-born Nigerian combo guard Kelvin Amayo and Peter Olisemeka, who were instrumental in the team’s historic third-place finish at the last edition, have made a return to the team.
The KingsMen have also signed Dr Congo’s point guard Maxi Shamb, South Sudan small forward Madut Akec, and American Raphiael Putney. Rivers Hoopers will be making their third appearance at the 2025 BAL, having featured in the inaugural season in 2021 and last season’s edition.
After setting a Nigerian record last year, Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu has said the team’s ambition at this year’s BAL is to go one better by reaching the final or even winning the coveted trophy.
“Amadou Gallo Fall personally approached me and said, hey, you guys have to go and build on all of this that you just did, otherwise, it will all be a waste,” Odaudu told ESPN. “This is why it is such a great feeling for us to know that we are going back. It means a lot to me because we didn’t want to miss out on qualifying.”
Rivers Hoopers’ preparations in Lagos are crucial as they look to build on their success from last season. With a strong squad and a determined coaching staff, the team is poised to make a deep run in the BAL.
The team’s fans will be eagerly watching their progress, and with the support of the Rivers State government, Rivers Hoopers are confident of achieving their goals in the BAL.