Nairobi City Thunder will be fighting to keep their Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoff hopes alive when they face Al Ahly Tripoli in a crucial rematch at BK Arena on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 6:00 pm EAT.

Still chasing their first win in the tournament, Thunder will be seeking redemption against the unbeaten Libyan side that handed them a heavy 115-87 defeat in the first leg. The loss marked the highest score ever recorded by a team in the BAL, underscoring the scale of the challenge that awaits Bradley Ibs’ charges.

Learning on the go

Despite the rough start to their debut BAL campaign, Thunder have shown flashes of improvement. They opened with a 92-63 loss to hosts APR and came painfully close to victory in their most recent outing, falling 75-74 to South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers after a last-minute three-pointer from veteran guard Robinson Opong.

“We’re learning with each game,” head coach Bradley Ibs said in a post-match interview. “This is our first time here, and we’re figuring out which combinations work best. You can already see our chemistry building.”

Key trio emerges

Thunder’s near-upset against the Tigers offered a glimpse of their potential. A lineup featuring Eugene Adera, Garang Ding, and team captain Tylor Ongwae sparked a significant turnaround in performance. Coach Ibs hinted that the trio could hold the key to their comeback hopes.

“When those three are on the court together, we see more tenacity and cohesion. Their plus-minus stats stand out. It’s typically our strongest lineup,” he said.

Race tightens

With only one game left in the group phase, Thunder face a must-win situation. Victory would keep them in contention for a spot in the eight-team playoff round set for June in South Africa. Another loss, however, could end their historic run.

Al Ahly Tripoli, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and will be looking to extend their dominance as they chase top seeding.

Thursday brings about some more exciting BAL Action.

⏰ 4:00 PM: Al Ahli🇱🇾 v Nairobi City Thunder🇰🇪
⏰ 7:00 PM: APR🇷🇼 v MBB🇿🇦
🎟 https://t.co/Bvys9mWqzg
👀 Watch the games live on:
📺 The BAL YouTube: https://t.co/xUvCCgpGfN
📲 https://t.co/Bvys9mWqzg / NBA App#BAL5 pic.twitter.com/gykFGYBbmi

— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 22, 2025

Thunder will need a flawless performance, both defensively and offensively, to overcome the Libyan giants. The stakes are clear: win and stay alive or lose and go home.

As tip-off nears, all eyes will be on whether Nairobi’s finest can defy the odds and script a dramatic turnaround in their BAL journey.