Rivers Hoopers punch ticket to BAL playoffs with crucial win over FUS Rabat

Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers have officially booked their place in the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs following a hard-fought 79–71 victory over Kalahari Conference hosts FUS Rabat on Thursday night in Morocco.

The win not only cemented the Hoopers’ spot in the upcoming playoff showdown set for June in South Africa, but also confirmed Al Ittihad’s qualification. Al Ittihad sit atop the group with an unbeaten 4–0 record, with Rivers Hoopers closely behind at 3–1.

With the victory, the Nigerian champions hold a crucial edge over FUS Rabat, having won both of their head-to-head encounters. This means that even if both teams finish with the same record at the end of the conference phase, the Hoopers will secure a higher seed.

Madut Akec was the standout performer of the night, leading all scorers with 17 points, while Peter Olisemeka provided a dominant presence in the paint, pulling down 12 vital rebounds to help secure the win.

The result marks a significant milestone for Rivers Hoopers, who continue to prove themselves as one of Africa’s rising basketball powerhouses. Attention now shifts to the playoffs in South Africa, where the Hoopers will aim to make a deep run and contend for continental glory.