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Nigeria’s Maktown Flyers saw their Sahara Conference campaign come to a disappointing end in Rabat after a 79–62 defeat to Senegal’s ASC Ville de Dakar on the final day of action.
Needing a victory to keep playoff hopes alive, Maktown battled but were ultimately outclassed by a Dakar side that completed a stunning turnaround from a 0–2 start to clinch qualification with a 3–2 record. The Nigerian side finished 1–4, bowing out despite flashes of promise throughout the tournament.
JC Butler Jr. led Maktown’s scoring with 16 points, while Peter Olisemeka added 12 points and nine rebounds. However, the Flyers struggled to match Dakar’s physicality and depth, particularly in the second half where the Senegalese side pulled away decisively.
Dakar’s resurgence was driven by Samba Fall, who delivered 20 points and eight rebounds, alongside a dominant frontcourt display from Lamine Badji (13 points, 10 rebounds) and Mouhamed Camara (12 points, nine rebounds).
The result underscored Maktown’s inconsistency across the conference, where early defeats left them with little margin for error heading into the final round.
In the day’s other decisive fixture, Egypt’s Al Ahly secured top spot with a gritty 77–71 double-overtime win over hosts FUS Rabat—only the second double-overtime contest in Basketball Africa League history.
Zack Lofton and Malek Abdelgawad scored 17 points each for Al Ahly, with Abdelgawad adding a commanding 18 rebounds. FUS Rabat, led by Anthony Pritchard (14 points), pushed the Egyptians to the limit but were undone by turnovers in the closing stages.
Despite the loss, FUS Rabat advanced alongside Al Ahly, Dakar and Club Africain as the Sahara Conference representatives for the 2026 Basketball Africa League playoffs in Kigali.
For Maktown Flyers, the exit marks a tough learning curve on the continental stage, with the team expected to regroup and build on the experience gained in Rabat. The conference also drew strong fan engagement, with nearly 35,000 spectators attending games in Rabat.
Attention now turns to the playoffs beginning May 22, where Africa’s elite clubs will compete for the BAL crown—while Maktown reflect on what might have been after a campaign that promised more than it ultimately delivered.
