Rivers Hoopers Hold Off Hosts FUS Rabat to Stay Unbeaten in BAL Kalahari Conference

 Rivers Hoopers continued their perfect start to the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference with a hard-fought 88-82 victory over hosts FUS Rabat on Sunday night in Morocco.

Despite the home crowd pushing FUS Rabat every step of the way, the reigning Nigerian champions showed composure and resilience in crunch time to secure their second win of the tournament. FUS, now 0-2, find themselves in unfamiliar territory after topping the group last season.

The Moroccan side dominated several key stats—moving the ball with greater efficiency and seeing their bench contribute 24 points to the Hoopers' 5. However, poor perimeter defense and rebounding proved costly. Rivers Hoopers made them pay by knocking down 11 three-pointers and grabbing 16 offensive rebounds—both game-defining figures.

FUS Rabat had their moments, briefly taking a 64-63 lead in the fourth quarter, but Rivers responded with a decisive scoring stretch to close out the game.

Madut Akec was once again the standout performer for the Hoopers. The South Sudanese guard poured in a game-high 25 points, going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Big man Peter Olisemeka added a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, playing a vital role in keeping FUS off the boards.

Speaking after the game, Olisemeka highlighted the team's unity as a key factor in their early success.

"Staying together when things get tough—that’s what keeps us going. We believe in each other and push together," he said. "This is still a new team, and there's a lot to improve on, but the spirit is strong, and that’s what matters."

Rivers Hoopers now gear up for a top-of-the-table clash on Tuesday against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ittihad, the only other unbeaten team in the group. FUS Rabat, meanwhile, will be desperate to turn things around when they meet Mali’s Stade Malien.

📸 Photo credit: The BAL Africa