- Nairobi City Thunder suffered a 92-63 defeat in their opening match of the 2025 Basketball Africa League campaign against hosts APR Rwanda on Saturday evening.
- The match was held at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
- Nairobi City Thunder will regroup as they face Al Ahli SC of Libya on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM.
Nairobi City Thunder began their maiden Basketball Africa League 2025 campaign on a disappointing note, suffering a crushing 92-63 defeat at the hands of hosts APR Rwanda on Saturday evening at the BK Arena in Kigali.
APR’s dynamic combo guard, Aliou Diarra, spearheaded the charge with a stellar performance, recording 21 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.
He was ably supported by Jemar Randle, who contributed 20 points. The duo were the only players on their team to score at least 20 points, while Antony Miller Jr. also chipped in with 11.
On the Thunder’s side, team captain Tylor Ongwae posted 14 points and three assists, while William Davis II chipped in with 11 points.
They were the only two Thunder players to reach double figures, as the Kenyan side struggled both defensively and from beyond the arc.
Thunder began the game with promise, as Ongwae opened the scoring with a three-pointer to give his side an early 0-3 advantage.
However, by the midway point of the first quarter, APR had edged ahead 12-10, with contributions from Diarra (4), Randle (2), Axel Olenga (3), and Ntore Habimana (3).
Despite this, Thunder finished the first quarter narrowly ahead, leading 22-23 thanks to an impressive eight-point effort from Ongwae, who also added an assist and a rebound to spark his team’s early momentum.
The second quarter saw APR seize control of the game, dominating on both ends of the court.
Diarra was particularly formidable on defense, frustrating Thunder’s offensive efforts and protecting the rim effectively.
APR outscored Thunder 17-8 in the quarter to take a 39-31 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, both teams traded blows in a tightly contested stretch, but the Rwandan side maintained their edge, ending the period with a 20-20 stalemate and a 59-51 advantage overall.
APR’s cohesive defense continued to capitalize on City Thunder’s lapses and poor perimeter shooting.
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In the final quarter, James Maye Jr.’s charges asserted their dominance over the Thunder, outscoring them 33-11 to seal a commanding 92-63 victory.
Looking ahead, the Nairobi City Thunder will regroup to face another formidable opponent, Al Ahli SC of Libya, on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 PM at the same venue.
Al Ahli also started their campaign on a strong note, defeating South Africa’s MBB 87-77 in the tournament opener earlier on Saturday. Meanwhile, APR will take on MBB later in the evening.
Nairobi City Thunder vs APR starters
APR Starters: Jemar Randle, Axel Olenga, Aliou Diarra, Ntore Habimana, Youssoupha Ndoye
Nairobi City Thunder Starters: Evans Ganapamo, Uchenna Iroegbu, William Davis II, Tylor Ongwae, Cheikh Mbacke
