East African Giants Clash in Nairobi

Kenya’s reigning basketball champions, Nairobi City Thunder, are set to ignite their 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualification campaign on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. They will face off against Ugandan league winners, Namuwongo Blazers, in the opening match of the BAL Elite 16 East Division qualifiers at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi. The tournament, which runs until Sunday, November 23, will see the two finalists secure coveted spots in the main 2026 BAL season, scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda.

This marks the second consecutive year that Kenya has been granted the rights to host the crucial qualifying event, a testament to the nation's growing basketball profile. Thunder, who made history as the first Kenyan team to ever play in the BAL during the 2025 season, received automatic qualification for this Elite 16 stage, partly due to their groundbreaking performance last year and their status as hosts.

Thunder's Quest for Redemption

After a challenging debut in the 2025 BAL Nile Conference where they registered only one victory, Thunder is driven by a desire for a stronger showing on the continental stage. Team captain Tylor Ongwae stated, “Our biggest motivation this year is that we are trying to avenge what happened last year. At BAL we didn't perform well... this year we are trying to change that and see if we can go a little bit further.”

Under the leadership of coach Bradley Ibs, the team has significantly strengthened its roster. Key players include returning center Ater Majok, who was instrumental in their previous campaign, and new American signings Chase Adams (point guard) and Lance Thomas (power forward). The squad is further bolstered by Kenya Morans stars Derrick Ogechi, Albert Odero, and Ariel Okal, as well as Bramwel Muchina, a significant acquisition from local rivals KPA.

Blazers' Historic Debut

Uganda's Namuwongo Blazers are making their first appearance at this stage of the qualifiers, carrying the momentum of a historic season. They ended the decade-long domestic dominance of the City Oilers to clinch their maiden Ugandan National Basketball League title. Their journey to Nairobi included a successful first-round qualifier in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where they finished second in their group.

The Blazers have also reinforced their squad for the tournament, adding American guard James Mooring and Senegalese center Muhammed Djitte to a lineup that already features prolific scorer Peter Obleng and experienced national team players like Tonny Drileba and Jimmy Enabu. The club's participation follows a period of tension with the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) over the BAL representation, which was resolved to allow the Blazers to compete for the 2026 spot.

The Road to Kigali

The seven-team tournament in Nairobi is divided into two pools. Thunder and the Blazers are in Pool A, alongside South Africa's Johannesburg Giants. Pool B consists of Bravehearts Basketball Club (Malawi), Dar City Basketball (Tanzania), Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique), and Matero Magic (Zambia). The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals on Saturday, November 22. The winners of the semi-finals will not only contest the final on Sunday but will also secure their places in the prestigious 2026 BAL finals. The opening match at 6:00 PM EAT on Tuesday promises a fierce contest, setting the tone for a week of high-stakes basketball with significant implications for the East African region's presence in Africa's premier club competition.