Kalahari Conference wraps up with playoff spots decided

The final day of the Basketball Africa League Kalahari Conference delivered both intensity and clarity, as the last round of games confirmed the four teams advancing to the playoffs.

In one of the day’s standout matchups, Nairobi City Thunder handed RSSB Tigers their first loss of the season. While the result did little to disrupt the Tigers’ position, it underscored the growing competitiveness within the conference. Thunder head coach Thomas Ibs described the performance as inconsistent but promising. “I think we played some really great stretches of basketball, but also some really bad stretches,” he said. “It’s about maturity, discipline, and understanding game situations. If we fix those moments, we put ourselves in a better position.”

Captain of the Nairobi City Thunder, Tylor Ongwae highlighted the value of competing at a high level, noting that consistent exposure to continental tournaments is vital for both club and national team growth. On the other side, Axel Mpoyo acknowledged where the game slipped away for RSSB Tigers. “Our defense was not on point, and turnovers hurt us,” he admitted. “We’ll look to improve on that going into the playoffs.”

In the day’s other fixture, Petro de Luanda continued their dominant run, defeating the Johannesburg Giants to secure their fourth win of the season and carry strong momentum into the playoffs. Petro’s head coach, Sergio Valdeolmillos credited the result to a collective team effort. “We play as a unit, and no one is more special than anyone in the team,” he said.

Despite finishing the conference without a win, the Giants showed resilience and flashes of promise throughout the tournament. Head coach Flosheim 'Flosh' Ngwenya praised his team’s determination, noting that they remained competitive until the final whistle in three of their five games. “It’s unfortunate that the results didn’t go our way, especially in front of our home crowd,” he said. “But I’m proud of the fight the players showed.”

With the conclusion of the Kalahari Conference, the four teams progressing to the playoffs have been confirmed: Petro de Luanda (Angola), Al Ahly (Libya), RSSB Tigers (Rwanda), and Dar City (Tanzania). The league now shifts into its next phase, where the continent’s top sides will compete for a place in the finals.

Across the conference, coaches echoed a consistent theme: execution. Missed shots, poor three-point percentages, and inconsistency at the free-throw line proved costly. As one coach summed it up, “At this level, you have to make shots. If you don’t, it becomes very difficult to win games. That’s the reality of this league.”

Attention now turns to the next stage of the season, set to take place from April 24 to May 5 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. There, Africa’s top teams will battle for a place in the finals.

As the dust settles on the Kalahari Conference, one thing is clear: the gap between Africa’s elite teams is narrowing, and every possession, every decision, and every moment now carries weight.