Kenyan basketball powerhouse Nairobi City Thunder is gearing up for its debut appearance in the prestigious Basketball Africa League (BAL), set to take place from May 17 to 25 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The reigning champions of the Kenyan Basketball League, Thunder, have been placed in the highly competitive Nile Conference alongside Rwanda’s APR, Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli, and South Africa’s Made by Basketball (MBB).
Thunder earned their spot in the tournament after dominating the East Division in last year’s qualifiers.
They secured a commanding 99–86 victory over Kriol Star in the Elite 16 Finals held at Nairobi’s Kasarani Indoor Arena in December.
Led by head coach Bradley Ibs, Thunder is aiming to carry their winning momentum into the continental stage, with eyes firmly set on advancing to the BAL playoffs in Pretoria next month.
“Representing Kenya in the BAL is a huge honor,” said Coach Ibs. “We’re focusing on strong defense, sharp offense, and maintaining team unity. We respect every team in our group and will approach each game with determination.”
Thunder’s campaign begins with crucial matchups against APR, Al Ahly Tripoli—undefeated champions of the West Division—and wildcard entrants MBB.
Following earlier BAL action in Rabat and Dakar, the Nile Conference serves as the final leg of the group stage. The format will follow a 12-game round-robin, with each team playing the others twice. Only the top two teams will advance to the playoffs in Pretoria, South Africa.
With national pride at stake, Nairobi City Thunder is set to make a bold statement on Africa’s biggest basketball stage.
