Thunder learn Elite 16 rivals as chase for BAL ticket intesifies

Three-time Kenyan basketball champions, Nairobi City Thunder have been pooled in Group A of the Road to BAL (Basketball Africa League) Elite 16, East Division, the final stage of the race for a place in the 2027 BAL season, set for Monday, 23 to Sunday, 29 November at Kasarani Indoor Arena.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe West Division Elite 16 will take place in Abidjan from Monday, 9 to Sunday, 15 November.Thunder, the hosts, who received a bye to this level, have been grouped against South Sudan's Patriots BC, beneficiaries of a wild card, Zambia's champions Munali Suns and Burundi's Urunani.Group B is headlined Dar City of Tanzania, who also received a bye, Dolphins of Botswana as well Namuwongo Blazers and Ferroviario de Maputo of Uganda and Mozambique respectively.##NAJAVA_MECA_10095197##While their clash against the Zambian champions, Munali, who went through the qualifiers hosted in their backyard unbeaten, and Patriots, will be a first, Thunder renew rivalry with Urunani, the only side to subject the Bradley Ibs-led side to defeat in the last three years, both in the local league and in the Road to BAL.The last matchup between these two teams occurred on 18, October 2024, during the Road to BAL preliminary group stage in Kibaha, Tanzania, ending in a heartbreaking 89-88 victory for Urunani.KPA chasing perfect away record in KBF Women’s League final playoffsThunder, who have hosted the last two editions of the East Division Elite 16 will look to continue their unbeaten run and qualify for their third consecutive BAL.The top two teams in each division, plus the highest-ranked third-placed team from both divisions, will qualify for the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season, bringing the total number of teams to five.These five teams will join the seven teams that have automatically qualified for the BAL regular season, representing Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and TunisiaNairobi City Thunder partners reveal ambitions to further invest in Kenyan basketballEast Division Group A:Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)Patriot Basketball Club (South Sudan)Munali Suns (Zambia)Urunani (Burundi)Group B:Dar City (Tanzania)Dolphins (Botswana)Namuwongo Blazers (Uganda)Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique)West DivisionGroup A:JCA Kings (Cote d'Ivoire)Avenir du Rail (Republic of Congo)Spintex Kinghts (Ghana)Stade Malien (Mali)Group B:Al Ittihad Sporting Club (Libya)Nadi Staoueli (Algeria)Nabaya Sofas (Guinea)Espoir Basket Club (Gabon)