Rivers Hoopers coach Ogoh Odaudu has cautioned against overconfidence despite the team’s impressive start to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Season 5. The Nigerian champions have won their first two games, beating Stade Malien 80-61 and FUS Rabat 88-82, but Odaudu believes there’s still work to be done.
“We are still a work in progress. We are not where we think we are supposed to be yet. We are still working on it,” Odaudu said in a post-match press conference. The team’s next game against Al Ittihad of Egypt poses a significant challenge, as the Egyptians have also won their opening two games.
Odaudu acknowledged the changes made to the team, which he believes have made them more lethal. “I think the team last year was more similar to this, and we had a couple of changes that made us more lethal. I’d say we’re ready to compete this year. That was the plan from the get-go; we want to play one game at a time.”
The 2025 BAL teams have been divided into three conferences of four teams each, with each conference playing a 12-game group phase. The top two teams in each conference, as well as two best third-placed teams across three conferences, will advance to the playoffs.
Rivers Hoopers are making their third appearance at the BAL, having featured in the inaugural season in 2021 and last season’s edition, where they finished third. Odaudu’s focus on the bigger picture ahead of the playoffs suggests that the team is determined to make a strong impression in the competition.
The team’s performance so far has been impressive, but Odaudu’s comments suggest that there’s still room for improvement. As the team prepares to face Al Ittihad, they will need to be at their best to come out on top. With their sights set on the playoffs, Rivers Hoopers will be looking to make a strong statement and prove themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the BAL.