Libya`s Al Ahli Tripoli handed Kenya`s Nairobi City Thunder (NCT) their second consecutive heavy defeat in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Sunday, winning decisively 115-87. This impressive score set a new league record for team points in a single game.
The previous record was established by Tunisia`s US Monastir in the inaugural BAL season in 2021, when they defeated Madagascar`s GNBC 113-66. That game also took place in Kigali.
Heading into Sunday`s match, Ahli Tripoli were coming off a confidence-boosting 87-77 victory against South Africa`s MBB on Saturday. In contrast, NCT had suffered a significant 92-63 loss to Rwanda`s APR.
Ahli started Sunday`s game strong, dominating the initial minutes and building a 19-7 lead, spearheaded by captain Mohamed Sadi. However, NCT managed to find their offensive rhythm and limited the Libyan side`s advantage to 24-18 by the end of the first quarter.
The Kenyan team carried some momentum into the start of the second quarter, narrowing the deficit to 39-37. Nevertheless, Jean-Jacques Boissy found his scoring touch and led a crucial 14-1 run, allowing Ahli Tripoli to take a commanding 53-38 lead into halftime.
NCT struggled significantly in the second half of their loss to APR on Saturday, and history unfortunately repeated itself on Sunday. Ahli Tripoli came out firing in the third quarter, scoring 18 of the first 21 points and extending their lead dramatically to 71-41. By the close of the third quarter, they held an 81-53 advantage, with Jaylen Adams and Boissy leading the charge.
In the fourth quarter, Uchenna Iroegbu of NCT began hitting shots from various spots on the court. This final period was a high-scoring affair for both teams, with each adding 34 points to their respective totals. Ahli Tripoli`s offensive output ultimately secured their place in history as the highest-scoring team ever in a BAL game.
Boissy was the top performer, leading all scorers with 30 points. Adams contributed significantly with 26 points, Deon Thompson added 21, and Sadi chipped in 20. For NCT, Iroegbu led their scoring effort with 18 points, followed by Eugene Phillips with 14 and Tylor Ongwae with 10.
Commenting on his strategic decision to utilize Boissy as a sixth man despite his offensive firepower, Ahli Tripoli head coach Fouad Abou Chacra stated in the post-match press conference: “He is a young player (aged 25) with a very strong character. He`s a winner – he doesn`t look for excuses, he doesn`t want to feel like a victim. Every time he steps on the court, he works hard.”
He further added, “I`m fortunate as a coach because these guys are not just great players. They are great men – human beings… The human element in my team is beautiful; they love each other, they connect directly, and they correct each other.” “There`s no distance among these players. That`s why Boissy, coming off the bench as the sixth man, will undoubtedly be the best sixth man in this tournament.”
Looking ahead, Ahli Tripoli are scheduled to face APR on Tuesday, while NCT will aim to regroup and bounce back the same day against South Africa`s MBB.
