Rivers Hoopers Clamp Down on Stade Malien in Dominant BAL 2025 Opener

 Rabat, Morocco — The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) tipped off in dramatic fashion as Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers showcased a defensive masterclass to overpower Stade Malien of Mali with a convincing 81-60 victory in the opening clash of the Kalahari Conference.

Widely regarded as a dark horse this season, the Hoopers delivered a loud statement of intent—shutting down one of Mali's most promising teams through a blend of intensity, strategy, and cohesion on both ends of the court.

After falling behind early (23-14 in the first quarter), the Nigerian champions flipped the script in the second, outscoring Stade Malien 27-12 to take a 41-35 halftime lead. They never looked back, holding the Bamako-based club to just 15 points in the third quarter while building an unassailable lead.

At the heart of the Hoopers’ performance was Madut Akec, the South Sudanese forward and offseason signing from AS Douanes. Akec was everywhere—hitting four three-pointers en route to 16 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and swatting a game-high three blocks, cementing his role as the team’s new two-way engine.

Reigning Nigerian League MVP Kelvin Amayo was equally influential, leading all Hoopers scorers with 19 points, while Raphael Putney contributed 14, and Maxi Munanga added 11 from the bench.

Despite spirited efforts from Stade Malien's Mahamane Coulibaly (20 points) and Mouhamed Doumbia (18 points), the lack of support from the rest of the squad and costly turnovers (9 steals conceded) undermined their chances of a comeback.

Reflecting on the win, Akec stressed unity and growth:

“My mindset was to do whatever I could to help the team win,” he told BAL.nba.com.
“We have a good team. When we stick together, we’re dangerous. I’m not looking back to last season—I’m here to keep improving and helping us go further.” 

The victory marks a redemptive start for a Hoopers squad still smarting from a painful playoff collapse in 2024, where they lost a semifinal game after leading by 20 in the fourth quarter.

The Hoopers will next face home side FUS Rabat on Sunday, while Stade Malien must regroup quickly before their next matchup against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ittihad.

📸 Photo Credit: The BAL / The Ball Africa