Game Report: Al Ahly Ly Sporting Club dominates the court, giving City Oilers their third consecutive defeat with a 79-68 victory. Al Ahly Ly's relentless prowess leaves City Oilers struggling to keep pace, marking a decisive moment for both clubs in the 2024 Basketball Africa League.
Last Updated on
April 23, 2024
Fanya Nkengasong
Staff Writer
The Basketball Africa League resumed after a day's break for the 3rd day of the Nile Conference, featuring the highly anticipated showdown between the Ugandan champions, City Oilers, and Libya's basketball powerhouse, Al Ahly.
It's been a challenging journey for the Ugandan club, which has yet to secure a victory. Under the guidance of coach Karim Nesba, the team has yet to register a win in two games, during their run in the Nile Conference.
"We will fight with our means. And who knows? We may create a surprise," stated coach Karim Nesba.
The Libyans are determined to be focused on their recent defeat against Al Ahly Sporting from Cairo, their direct competitor. They are keen on bouncing back after facing a loss.
City Oilers started the game with a promising 4-2 lead, creating an illusion of dominance. However, they soon succumbed to mistakes, with turnovers (9) and a rebounding dominance allowing their opponent to swiftly regain control and win the first quarter 11-25.
The second period was a struggle for the Ugandan club, as they found it hard to find solutions, particularly in defending against Murphy's outside shots, who amassed 17 points. Al Ahly Libya had widened the gap significantly at halftime, leading 24-48. However, City Oilers found some momentum, capitalising on second-chance opportunities and Khaman's effectiveness in the paint (15 points), winning the period 24-11.
Despite facing unexpected adversity from their opponents in the third quarter, Al Ahly continued to fight relentlessly. Although they won the final quarter by a slim margin of two points (20-18), they ultimately fell short, losing the game 68-79.
