Game Report: Al Ahly Ly concluded the Nile Conference regular season with an emphatic 101-78 victory over Uganda's City Oilers to help solidify their playoff position. The game displayed Al Ahly Ly's strength and determination as they controlled the game from start to finish, leaving the Oilers struggling to keep pace.
Last Updated on
April 27, 2024
Jonathan Oriant
Staff Writer
It was a challenging scenario for City Oilers: they needed to overcome Al Ahly Benghazi by 12 points in their final Nile Conference game to stay in the (slim) hunt for the playoffs. Despite the absence of key players like point guard Pierre Jackson and a less impactful Solo Diabaté from the Libyan team, the odds favoured Karim Nesba's squad.
The game was a battle of giants, with City Oilers relying on Khaman Maluach's consistently outstanding performance throughout the season. On the other hand, Al Ahly looked to their dynamic South Sudanese duo, Lual and Deng, to lead the charge. The first quarter ended in a tie, with both teams locked at 20-22, favouring the Ugandans. The intensity continued in the second quarter, with scores remaining neck and neck.
Just before halftime, Al Ahly pulled ahead with an eight-point lead (48-39), extending it to 52-42 by the break. Jo-Lual Acuil Jr. emerged as a dominant force for the Ugandans, amassing 26 points by halftime. Despite City Oilers' efforts to narrow the gap in the third quarter, winning it by a solitary point (24-23), Al Ahly maintained control with a score of 75-66.
With star performances from Jo-Lual Acuil Jr. (40 points), Deng (18 points), Diabaté (14 points), and Murphy (21 points), Al Ahly asserted their superiority. The outcome seemed inevitable as they sealed the match 110-78, securing their spot in the finals. Jo-Lual Acuil Jr.'s remarkable performance propelled his team to victory and saw him surpass previous scoring records, inching closer to claiming the league's highest individual scoring accolade.
