With six minutes to go, it only took Al Ittihad a clutch three-pointer to flip the momentum. Down against a fired-up Stade Malien, the Alexandria side locked in defensively and took over late, grinding out a 72-69 win in a thrilling BAL showdown.
Last Updated on
April 6, 2025
Day 2 of the 2025 Basketball Africa League served up its first true nail-biter—and Al Ittihad Alexandria emerged just barely on the right side of it.
Coming into the game, Stade Malien were already on the ropes. Their tournament opener—a 80-61 loss to Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers—had left them in a precarious position. Another defeat would push them into dangerous territory, with every remaining game becoming a must-win.
They knew the stakes and for most of the game, it looked like they were ready to rise to the occasion.
From the opening tip-off, the Bamako-based team brought intensity, executing crisp passes and aggressive drives to the basket. Their energy on both ends of the floor kept the Alexandria side scrambling. By the third quarter, they’d carved out a lead that looked sturdy, even comfortable.
But basketball is a game of moments—and sometimes, one moment changes everything.
“We were struggling to find our rhythm, especially in the first half,” said Youssef Said Shehata, Al Ittihad’s shooting guard. “Coach told us to lock in defensively—man-to-man at first, then we switched to zone. That’s when things started to shift.”
With just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Stade Malien held a narrow lead. Then came the turning point. Landing Sané pulled up for a long-range three that clanged off the rim. As the rebound was corralled, Al Ittihad wasted no time. In a flash, Majok Deng let fly from beyond the arc. Swish. The score was tied—61-61—and the tide had turned.
From that moment on, it was Al Ittihad’s game to lose. They tightened their defense, crashing boards, contesting every shot, forcing errant passes. The Bamako side fought to regain their composure, but the cracks were showing.
Still, the game refused to let go of its tension. Every possession in the final minutes carried weight. Bodies collided in the paint. Shots rolled around the rim before falling—sometimes in, sometimes heartbreakingly out.
The final score—72-69—was a testament to the grind. A battle won not with flashy plays, but with grit, discipline, and timely execution.
“We played a tough team today,” Shehata reflected. “Nothing came easy. But when we locked in on defense in the second half, everything changed.”
Stade Malien, meanwhile, were left to wrestle with their own missed opportunities.
“We lost this game ourselves,” said Cartier Diarra, visibly frustrated. “We were leading with six minutes to go. That should’ve been enough. But our transition defense broke down too many times. We gave them open looks, and they took advantage.”
Now sitting at 0-2, Stade Malien’s road only gets harder. Every game from here is an elimination game in disguise. But Diarra remains defiant.
“We're not done yet. We get back to training tomorrow. Work on our zone offense. We need better spacing, better shot selection. We still have a chance—and we’re going to fight for it.”
As for Al Ittihad, their reward is a high-stakes clash with Rivers Hoopers—a team riding high and full of confidence. The matchup could very well decide the shape of the group.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” Shehata said, with a quiet smile. “We know what Rivers can do. But we’ve got our scouting report. Now it’s just about execution—offense, defense, all of it. We’ll be ready.”
[Photography/Imagery : Courtesy of FIBA/BAL]
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