RSSB Tigers Overpower Al Ahly to Set Up Historic BAL Final Against Petro de Luanda

Posted : 29 May 2026

Host side RSSB Tigers produced a breathtaking offensive performance to defeat Egyptian powerhouses Al Ahly SC 106-97 at the BK Arena in Kigali. The stunning semifinal victory sends the home team into the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) championship game. They have officially broken a continental glass ceiling by becoming the first-ever basketball club from Rwanda to reach this stage.

The high-stakes encounter lived up to every bit of pre-game expectation with both heavyweights trading heavy blows. The teams went into the halftime break locked in a tight 50-50 stalemate. However, the Tigers used a ruthless physical approach in the second half to systematically wear down the Cairo giants. They completely dominated the glass, pulling down 21 offensive rebounds to secure a decisive 25-9 advantage in second-chance points.

The brilliant Craig Randall II led the offensive charge for the ecstatic home side, finishing with 30 points and five assists. Towering center Oumar Ballo delivered a monstrous double-double performance under the rim, racking up 20 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Teafale Lenard Jr. also made a massive impact upon his return from injury, contributing 19 points through powerful downhill drives.

Al Ahly SC fought back behind an extraordinary individual effort from Zachary Matthew Lofton, who netted a game-high 36 points. Kevin Murphy supported beautifully with 24 points, while continental star Nuni Omot contributed 16 points. Despite cutting the deficit to a single point late in the third quarter, the Egyptians could not halt RSSB's continuous inside scoring.

RSSB Tigers head coach Henry Mwinuka expressed immense joy during his post-match press conference. He noted that leading the first Rwandan club to the final was a historic honor. Mwinuka praised the electric home crowd for their relentless vocal support, stating that it gave his players the extra energy required to close out the match.

The triumphant Tigers will face Angolan giants Petro de Luanda in the grand final on May 31. Petro de Luanda secured their slot by rallying past Libya's Al Ahly Ly in an equally dramatic semifinal. Meanwhile, the dethroned champions Al Ahly SC will face Al Ahly Ly in a highly competitive third-place classification game.

RSSB Tigers Overpower Al Ahly to Set Up Historic BAL Final Against Petro de Luanda

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