BAMAKO (Mali) – Al Ahly Benghazi put in a resolute performance in their first Road to BAL game against CGF of Guinea, winning comfortably with a final score of 80–60.
The four-time Libyan champions (in 2010, 2011, 2023 and 2025) got off to a good start, taking the first and second quarters 24–15 and 22–13, to end the first half 46–28. It looked as if they would dominate the rest of the tie.
However, this was not to be, as CGF's start to the third quarter saw a complete turnaround.
Elhadj Aboubakar Bah posted a two-point shot inside the paint from a fast-break alley-oop, followed by Idrissa Camara, who pushed harder with a two-point layup, and then Louis Desire Soumah with a three-pointer in the early minutes of the game. It took Branden Frazier’s three points to bring Al Ahly back into the game, and the back-and-forth continued with the quarter ending 20–20, rattling the Ahmed Mohamed Soliman technical bench.
However, the false confidence that had seen CGF keep up with their opponents disappeared by the fourth quarter, as Coach Lancinet Kabassan and his team could not contain the rampaging Al Ahly side, who returned more determined than ever to dominate their opponents, ensuring that the last quarter ended 22–12.
Al Ahly’s Safian Hamad led the floor with an efficiency of 20, achieving 22 points, 6 rebounds and 1 assist. He was followed by Miyi Oni with 14 points, 1 rebound and 3 assists, while Aboubacar Savane achieved 11 points and 3 rebounds, and Elhadj Epiphane Bah achieved 10 points and 3 rebounds.
Al Ahly captain Sofiane, speaking about the game, stated: “As for my performance? It’s all the team. Today it’s me, maybe tomorrow it will be another player. I am happy for these 22 points.”
His coach on the other had this to say: “It was not an easy game. The team of Guinea gave us a lot of problems even though the score was big. We didn’t see them before it’s why it was difficult for us to adapt. The game of tomorrow will be difficult also because the Malien team have some local and professionals who come to help them. Our chance is now to go to see their game.”
While the CFG Coach said; “We faced a good team and players very good and for their experience. We are a young team and we come here in Bamako to learn but going also to take any chance to participate in BAL.”
CRBT survives ASD scare
The home team, Centre de Référence de Basketball de Tombouctou (CRBT) of Mali, had to work hard to secure a victory against ASD in a tense match that had the Malian fans on the edge of their seats throughout.
Although CRBT managed to win 63–54, it was not an easy victory for the home side.
Binaly Toure scored 12 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and provided 2 assists for CRBT. His teammate S. Fall also scored 12 points, with 2 rebounds and 1 assist.
Having seen his side go down to ASD 14-17 in the first quarter, coach Moctar Habib tightened up his defence, taking the second quarter 17-9, and consolidating with scores of 14-12 and 18-16 in the second, third and final quarters respectively. Koin Traoré scored 12 points to lead the floor for ASD, while Alexandre Tahita and Wendeketa Ouagraour contributed eight points apiece.
After the game, ASD of Burkina Faso coach Kogdoub Yameogo said, "We started well in the first quarter, but my players were tired. We are going to rest and hope we will play better tomorrow.'
The CRBT coach explained after the game how his team had to double up and retrieve the encounter.
'We started badly, maybe due to the pressure. I took a time-out to tell my players to push and play without pressure, and after that it was easy for us. We have to work on our three-point shooting, and we hope it will be better against Al Ahly."
FIBA