Deng Dominates Late as Al Ittihad Edge Stade Malien to Stay Unbeaten

Majok Deng put on a shooting clinic to help Al Ittihad of Egypt come from behind and claim a 72-69 victory over Stade Malien in a dramatic 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference clash on Sunday night.

For much of the game, Stade Malien looked destined to bounce back from their opening loss, controlling the tempo and leading for three quarters. But a sloppy fourth quarter riddled with turnovers and defensive lapses cost them dearly, dropping them to 0-2 in the standings.

The Malian champions committed just six turnovers in the first three quarters but unraveled under pressure, finishing with 13—seven of those in the final period. Their failure to contain Al Ittihad’s perimeter attack, especially Majok Deng, proved decisive.

Deng, who had a quiet start due to early foul trouble, came alive in the second half and torched Stade Malien from deep, going 5-of-8 from three-point range to finish with a game-high 21 points. His fourth triple of the night tied the game at 61-61 with six minutes remaining and shifted momentum completely in the Egyptian side's favor.

“We lost the game in transition defense and turnovers late in the game,” said Stade Malien guard Cartier Diarra, who led his team with 19 points. “We should have kept that energy and composure.”

 

Al Ittihad head coach Ahmed Soliman made a gutsy decision by reintroducing center Anas Mahmoud—initially expected to sit out due to injury—midway through the third quarter. Mahmoud’s return sparked the comeback, as he delivered two emphatic blocks and assisted Deng on a fast-break dunk that gave Al Ittihad a 63-61 lead they never relinquished.

“Our rebounding wasn’t great, and I had to bring him in. He played about 11 minutes. I shouldn’t have done that, but at the same time, I wanted to win the game,” Soliman explained.

The win marked Al Ittihad’s second in as many days after their 71-60 victory over hosts FUS Rabat. It was also a statement of depth and resilience, as Soliman rotated his lineup and found answers when it mattered most.

Forward George King added 9 points and praised the team’s ability to capitalize on key moments.

“They made mistakes late, and we took advantage. That’s how we won,” King said, before applauding Deng’s heroics. “That’s the beauty of this team—on any given night, anyone can be the difference.”

Stade Malien, despite their energetic start and multiple scoring runs, now face an uphill battle to remain in playoff contention. Diarra remains hopeful.

“We can still win the next four games. We just need to prepare better and keep improving,” he said.

Al Ittihad will now prepare for a top-of-the-table showdown with Rivers Hoopers on Tuesday, while Stade Malien look to avoid a third straight defeat when they face FUS Rabat.

📸 Photo credit: The BAL Africa