Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs, set to tip off this weekend in South Africa.
The Nigerian champions have made key roster additions to address defensive shortcomings observed during the Kalahari Conference.
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In a strategic move to solidify their defense, the Hoopers have acquired Ahmed Doumbia, a guard known for his defensive prowess in the French League, and Chingka Garba, a Nigerian forward who plies his trade in Rwanda.
“We wanted to address our defensive issues,” said Coach Odaudu.
“Ahmed is very defensive-minded and a beast on offense. We needed someone to support Kelvin Amayo in the backcourt, and Doumbia fits that role perfectly.”
The addition of Garba also brings much-needed depth to the frontcourt.
“We were almost playing Peter Olisemeka to the ground,” Odaudu explained. “We needed someone who could share that workload, and Garba was the right fit.”
Rivers Hoopers closed out their Kalahari Conference campaign with a 4-2 record, suffering both defeats at the hands of Al Ittihad Alexandria.
Despite the strong finish, Coach Odaudu acknowledged the team needed to raise their game ahead of the playoffs.
“We need to up the ante to compete in South Africa,” he said following the conference games in April. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but we have the time and tools to come out better.”
The KingsMen are set to face Tunisian side US Monastir in their opening game on Saturday, June 7.
The two teams share a balanced head-to-head record, with two wins apiece from their four previous encounters.
This marks Rivers Hoopers’ third appearance at the BAL. They debuted in the league’s inaugural season in 2021 and returned in 2024, where they claimed a historic third-place finish—the best result ever by a Nigerian club.
As the playoffs approach, the team is focused, fortified, and determined to make another deep run.
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