LUSAKA (Zambia) - Zambian champions Matero Magic delighted their fans by booking their place in the 2026 Road to BAL Elite 16 after wrapping up the Division East Group E qualifiers with a convincing win.
Accompanying the Magic in the next round in Nairobi, Kenya, will be the Johannesburg Giants from South Africa, who enjoyed a successful qualifying run, as well as Ferroviario da Beira, who are returning to the competition.
Below is a summary of the final day of Group E, which took place on Saturday, 1 November at the Nasdec Arena in the Zambian capital.
Matero finish in superb fashion
Matero Magic set a new standard in the final game of the day, beating Bravehearts 74–59 and earning a direct place in the Elite 16.
Both teams had a 2–2 record coming into the all-important final fixture, but Matero came out on top.
Jacob Mushinge enjoyed a successful night shooting from outside the arc, making six of his eight three-pointers to finish with a game-high 20 points.
Speedy forward Elijah Mukalebai (16 points) and big man Corey Boyd (11 points) also made significant contributions to Matero's success.
Giants end their campaign on a perfect note
The Johannesburg Giants ended their debut campaign on a high, achieving a perfect 5-0 record after defeating the previously undefeated Beira team 77-68.
Team captain Pieter Prinsloo put on a memorable shooting display, making seven out of 11 three-point attempts, and finished the game with a game-high 21 points.
Other Giants players to score in double figures were Nino Dim with 16 points and Joshua Ozabor with 13 points. Nkosinathi Sibanyoni scored eight points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Beira's American imports Ke'Tarrious Bouchum and Joshua Thomas both scored 16 points, and Ayad Munguambe added another 13.
Dolphins finish on a high
On the final day of the qualifiers, the Dolphins of Botswana secured a 80-65 victory over the Basket Hounds.
The Dolphins, who had not won a game before their match against the Hounds, who had lost all four of their previous games, were led in scoring by Kesaobaka Ndawanyana with 25 points and Kendrick Delahoussay with 20 points and five assists.
Botsile Ramabu achieved a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Dominic Thomas scored 10 points.
Tanaka Ndyara was the Hounds' top scorer with 16 points. The point guard also had five assists and three steals.
Group E Standings after Game-day 5 in Lusaka (November 1)
TEAM | WIN-LOSS RECORD | POINTS SCORED | POINTS CONCEDED | POINT DIFFERENTIAL |
Johannesburg Giants* | 5-0 | 362 | 280 | +80 |
Ferroviario da Beira* | 4-1 | 432 | 378 | +54 |
Matero Magic* | 3-2 | 383 | 393 | -10 |
Bravehearts | 2-3 | 346 | 354 | -8 |
Dolphins | 1-4 | 309 | 333 | -24 |
Hounds Basketball | 0-5 | 342 | 442 | -100 |
*Qualified for the 2026 Elite 16 (Kenya, 18 – 23 Nov. 2025) FIBA