Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers have landed in Pretoria, South Africa, poised for the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) finals, set to commence on Friday, June 6, at SunBet Arena.
The Kings Men secured their place in the finals after a strong showing as runners-up in the Kalahari Conference earlier this season. They now join seven other top-tier teams—Al Ahli (Libya), Al Ittihad (Egypt), US Monastir (Tunisia), Petro de Luanda (Angola), APR (Rwanda), FUS Rabat (Morocco), and Kriol Star (Cape Verde)—in the battle for the prestigious African championship title.
Under the leadership of head coach Ogah Odaudu, Rivers Hoopers, who earned a bronze medal at the 2024 BAL finals in Kigali, Rwanda, enter the competition as the continent’s fourth-ranked team. With high expectations, the Nigerian squad is determined to surpass last season’s performance and vie for the coveted BAL crown.