NAIROBI (Kenya) - Nairobi City Thunder (NCT) are hosting the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) East Division Elite 16 for the second year in a row, with hopes of making back-to-back appearances in the premier continental club competition.
For the second season in a row, the Kenyan champions won the national league unbeaten, but are yet to find success outside the league.
History
Last year, the Thunder became the first Kenyan team to qualify for the BAL, winning the East Division Elite 16.
It was a year of many firsts for the Kenyan side: they lifted the national league title for the first time; made their debut in the Road to the BAL Group Phase, finishing second; and won their place in Nairobi.
In the Nile Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, from 17 to 25 May, they had a tough debut, winning only one of their six matches against South Africa’s MBB.
They have continued to dominate the Kenyan league, winning their second title and remaining unbeaten in the 2024/25 season. They are now aiming for a better showing in the BAL with a second home ticket.
Coach
American tactician, Ibs, with close to two decades of coaching experience in Kenya, took over the team in the 2023-24 season after a change in management, managing his first top tier team.
The Concordia University graduate has delivered a historic two seasons for NCT, and had now set his sights on leading the side to becoming the first Kenyan team to qualify for the BAL playoffs.
Key Players
Lebanese (of South Sudan descent) power forward Ater Majok is back with NCT, joining Chase Adams, Lance Thomas and Bramwel Muchina who have bolstered coach Ibs' league-winning squad.
Majok was part of the Thunder squad that qualified for BAL last year. He, however, did not follow through with them to the BAL, choosing to instead join teammate Abdoulaye Harouna Amadou at ASC Ville de Dakar in the Sahara Conference, failing to qualify for the Last Eight.
Adams, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 BAL Combine, American Power Forward Thomas who brings a versatile style of play and has fit right in with Ibs' charges from his first training session, according to the tactician. Muchina, is also joining from former national champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA).
Other key players include skipper Tyler Ongwae, Albert Odero, and Grange Ding among others, all having picked crucial experience in last year's BAL debut.
How they qualified
The Ibs-coached side made their BAL debut last year as the Elite 16 East Division champions, playing for a 1-5 show to miss out on the BAL playoffs. Unlike last year where they had to go through the Road to BAL Group Phase, the Kenyan champions were handed a direct ticket to this year's Elite 16.
Elite 16 East Division, Group A
NCT have been pooled against South Africa Johannesburg Giants, and Uganda's Namuwongo Blazers in Group A, playing two matches to qualify for the all-important Semis.
FIBA