JCA Kings opened their Road to BAL Elite 16 campaign with a commanding 72-58 win over Avenir du Rail in Abidjan. Samba Fall and Aboubakr Gbane scored 14 points apiece as the hosts controlled the contest all night.
Last Updated on
November 10, 2026
JCA Kings got their Road to BAL Elite 16 journey off to the start they wanted. Playing in front of their own fans at the Palais des Sports de Treichville, the hosts stayed in front for almost the whole night and beat BC Avenir du Rail 72-58 in their first game at this stage.
The visitors kept fighting to the final buzzer, but the Kings were never really in danger of losing control. The hosts led for 37 minutes and 26 seconds of the 40, while the visitors led for just over a minute. The lead changed hands only twice all night, and the score was level three times.
Avenir du Rail rebounded well but struggled offensively, shooting 24 of 75 overall and 3 of 25 from three-point range. JCA shot 26 of 57 and capitalised on turnovers. The first quarter was close, with JCA leading 21-19. The game, however, swung in the second quarter as JCA won by eight points, 19-11, and went to the break up by ten.
After the break, Avenir du Rail responded with a fight and matched the host’s point for point, but their offensive rebounds couldn’t cut the deficit, which stood at 10 points going into the final quarter.
JCA avoided the pressure of the penultimate quarter, secured a four-point win at 16-12, and closed out the night with a 14-point win at 72-58. Their biggest lead was 17, while the visitors never led by more than 3. JCA’s best run of the night was 10-0, while Avenir du Rail’s best run was 7-0.
Samba Fall led all scorers with 14 points, shooting 5-for-8 overall and 4-for-6 from three-point range in under 26 minutes. He also recorded five rebounds, three assists, a steal, a block, and a game-high efficiency of 21. Aboubakr Gbane added 14 points and made 7-of-9 free throws. Sydney Hawmmond scored 11 points on perfect shooting in under 22 minutes. Pape Djiby Boye had six assists, while Trevon Duval contributed six points, three assists, and four turnovers. Ben Mohamed Konate finished with two points, four steals, and two assists.
The bench held up its end as Mohamed Keita scored eight points and made all four of his free throws. Lassina Konate grabbed six rebounds in a little over six minutes, Joseph Kouakou took six in 18 minutes, and Attoule Alla added four in about nine.
Avenir du Rail secured 22 offensive rebounds to JCA’s 10 and scored 18 second-chance points compared to the Kings’ 11. Edlain Elenga led with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Franklin Agunanne added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Samuel Mouyayangui contributed eight points and nine rebounds.
However, poor shooting limited Avenir du Rail. Mouyayangui shot 3-for-13, Agunanne 5-for-13, François Kuyo 2-for-10, and Frank Kamndoh Betoudji 2-for-12. Kamndoh Betoudji made four of five free throws and added five rebounds and three assists. Désiré Mouzita scored seven points but committed six turnovers. Frederic Loubaki had four turnovers and made two of the team’s three three-pointers. Avenir du Rail committed 19 fouls to JCA’s 12 and recorded 10 assists compared to the Kings’ 21.
JCA turned Avenir du Rail’s 21 turnovers into 25 points, while the visitors managed 10 points off turnovers. The Kings led fast-break points 25-13 and finished with 17 steals. Points in the paint were tied at 36, and Avenir du Rail led second-chance points 18-11.
This opening Elite 16 win met JCA’s expectations. They committed 22 turnovers, which they will look to reduce, but 21 assists, 17 steals, and balanced scoring secured the victory despite being out-rebounded 45 to 38. Avenir du Rail showed strong effort, and improved shooting could have made the game closer.
