Odaudu Blames Rivers Hoopers’ BAL Exit on Lack of Domestic Competition

Posted : 10 June 2025

Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogo Odaudu has blamed his team’s early exit from the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs on the lack of regular domestic competition in Nigeria. The Kingsmen crashed out in the quarter-finals after suffering a second straight defeat—this time a 104–74 loss to Rwanda’s Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) in Pretoria. Odaudu said his players lacked game sharpness due to inactivity in the local league, which left them ill-prepared to face top-tier opponents like APR and US Monastir.

“We haven’t played competitively since Morocco, and that’s a huge problem,” Odaudu said post-match. “APR are still active in their league. Monastir just came off their championship game. Meanwhile, we’re trying to get into shape during the tournament itself.” He called on the Nigeria Basketball Federation to restructure the domestic league, so Nigerian teams arrive at international tournaments ready to compete at full intensity.

The lack of match fitness showed early, as APR stormed to a 24–11 first-quarter lead and dominated the paint, scoring 52 points inside. Despite a spirited 19-point performance from Madut Akec and a brief second-quarter rally sparked by three consecutive three-pointers from Raphiael Putney, the Kingsmen never recovered. Odaudu admitted that his team had “a really bad day” and failed to defend as expected. “We’re disappointed, but we hold our heads high. This happens in basketball.”

Despite the disappointing result, Rivers Hoopers had impressed earlier in the tournament, finishing second in the Sahara Conference in Morocco with a 4–2 record. “Nobody gave us a chance in Morocco, but we stood our ground,” Odaudu said. He also expressed pride in his players’ resilience and reiterated his belief in the team’s potential to return stronger. “We’re still Rivers Hoopers. We’ll go back and we’ll be back.”

The coach also extended appreciation to Rivers State and their supporters for the backing received so far. “The support from Rivers State has been miles better than what other teams get,” Odaudu noted. “But for us to go even further next time, we’ll need even more support.” The Kingsmen, bronze medalists in the 2024 edition, now turn their attention to next season with hopes of an even deeper run in the BAL.

Odaudu Blames Rivers Hoopers’ BAL Exit on Lack of Domestic Competition

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