Nigeria’s representative at the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL), Rivers Hoopers, have secured a place in the Championship Playoffs after a dominant 79–59 victory over Stade Malien on Sunday.
The win, their fourth in six games, ensured the Hoopers finished second in the Kalahari Conference behind Al Ittihad, earning a return to the BAL Playoffs for a second consecutive year. The postseason will tip off in June in Pretoria, South Africa.
On the final day in the Kalahari Conference, Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu gave opportunities to players from the reserve bench—and they delivered in style.
After contributing a combined 32 points across their first four games, the Hoopers’ bench put up 33 points against Stade Malien, playing a pivotal role in the team’s back-to-back victories over the Malian side, also known as Les Blancs de Bamako.
In the absence of 2025 Nigerian League MVP Kelvin Amayo, Abel Offia stepped into the starting lineup and tallied 9 points. Michael Afuwape made a strong impression, scoring 13 points on an efficient 4-for-5 shooting. Ifeanyi Koko Jr. also chipped in with 9 points.
BAL Elevate player David Eke hit his first three-pointer of the season from the corner, finishing with 5 points.
Reflecting on his performance, Koko Jr. expressed optimism for the next stage:
“I had a good game today, but it wasn’t my best. I am a lot better than what I did today. I will show more of that in the playoffs in South Africa,” said the 20-year-old.
Rivers Hoopers will now shift focus to the BAL Playoffs, where they’ll aim to surpass their previous best of Third Place finish and contend for the title.
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