Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-21 03:03:49
The 2024 Basketball Africa League draw took place last week, and Rivers Hoopers Head Coach, Ogoh Odaudu, is preparing his team for tough competition in the Sahara Conference. The group includes US Monastir of Tunisia, APR of Rwanda and Senegal’s AS Douanes, all of which are strong contenders in basketball. Odaudu is confident that his team will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead when the BAL begins.
The top two teams from each of the three conferences – Sahara, Kalahari, and Nile – will advance to the BAL playoffs scheduled to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from May 24 to June 1. In addition to the top two teams, two best third-placed teams from across the conferences will also proceed to the playoffs.
Despite the tough draw, Odaudu is optimistic about his team’s chances. He acknowledged the strength of their opponents in the group, which includes former champions, US Monastir, and last year’s finalist, AS Douanes. Odaudu described the group as the ‘group of death’ due to the level of competition they will face.
Rivers Hoopers won’t play until May 4, providing them with ample time to prepare for the tournament. Odaudu is confident that the team will be prepared and focused once they hit the court. As the Nigeria Premier League champions, they are eager to make a mark in the BAL and surpass their previous performance in the tournament.
In the previous editions of the BAL, Rivers Hoopers and Kwara Falcons were the only Nigerian teams to have participated, but both teams did not advance past the group stage. Odaudu is determined to change that narrative and lead Rivers Hoopers to become the first Nigerian team to make it to the playoffs of the BAL. He emphasized that their primary goal for this year is to reach the playoffs of the tournament. They are no longer content with just participating and are focused on achieving a higher place in the competition.
The team’s primary objective is to progress to the playoffs and make an impact in the tournament. Odaudu emphasized that qualifying for the playoffs would be a significant achievement, and anything beyond that would be a bonus for the team.
In conclusion, Rivers Hoopers are gearing up for the tough competition in the 2024 Basketball Africa League. With a tough grouping in the Sahara Conference, Odaudu and his team are determined to overcome the challenges and make it to the playoffs, aiming to be the first Nigerian team to achieve this feat in the BAL.
