NBA Kenya operations lead, Michael Finley, has tipped Nairobi City Thunder to cruise through the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2025 qualifiers slated for Tuesday to Sunday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This will mark the fifth edition of the BAL qualifiers, organised by FIBA Africa, as teams from across the continent battle for a coveted spot in the prestigious 12-team tournament.
Since the tournament’s inception in 2021, no Kenyan team has gone beyond the preliminary round.
They include Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) in 2021, 2023 and 2024 and Ulinzi Warriors in 2022.
Last year saw Angola’s Petro de Luanda lift the overall crown with Libya’s Al-Ahly Ly second.
Finley believes Thunder can break this jinx.
“They have a good shot of qualifying for the BAL. I wish them the best and hope they can qualify,” Finley stated.
Thunder are in Group ‘A’ of the East Division alongside GNBC (Madagascar), Ushindzi (Comoros), Hawassa City (Ethiopia) and Beau Vallon Heat (Seychelles) and hosts Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT).
The teams will compete in a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the next stage.
Group ‘B’, scheduled for October 22-27 in Harare, Zimbabwe, features Basket Hounds (Zimbabwe), Costa do Sol (Mozambique), Matero Magic (Zambia) and Brave Hearts (Malawi).
Finley said Thunder’s signings have bolstered their chances, particularly with the acquisition of Tylor Ongwae from Germany’s Niners Chemnitz.
“Thunder’s roster changes show they’re serious about qualifying. Bringing in talent like Ongwae is a big move. I can’t wait to see them in action,” Finley added.
Ongwae, who was instrumental in Thunder’s first-ever Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) title in July, comes with a wealth of experience.
His resume includes winning the FIBA Europe Cup with Niners Chemnitz, three Basketligaen titles in Denmark (2019-2021), two Basketligaen Defender of the Year awards and two Danish Cup titles with Bakken Bears.
He helped Kenya to a runner-up finish at the 2019 FIBA AfroCan in Mali, going down 81-62 to DRC Congo.