Nadi Basket defeated Espoir Basket 66-59 in the Road to BAL 2027 Elite16, as Amine Bensalah delivered 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Algerian side through a fiercely contested clash and boost their semi-final qualification hopes.
Last Updated on
November 10, 2026
The game got off to a quick start when Mahdi Zaim opened the scoring for Nadi Basket with a layup. Jeremie Nzamba immediately put Espoir on the scoreboard with a step-back three-pointer. The Algerian side went on a 4-0 run, courtesy of Amine Bensalah, who first scored a layup, then went 2/2 on the free-throw line. Nadi Basket then extended their lead to 10-5, and Espoir head coach Michael Oganda-Igoué called a timeout to stop the bleeding.
The timeout proved effective as Ronald Kolmia hit a three-pointer, followed by Westy Midepe’s fast-break layup to tie the game midway through the first quarter. Both teams traded baskets in quick succession, highlighted by consecutive three-pointers from Corey Manigault and Herman Igouwe, with Igouwe adding another three-pointer shortly after.
At this stage, the teams remained closely matched and kept the pace up, reflecting their strong conditioning. However, Nadi Basket made a late run to close the quarter with a 25-20 lead. The game remained highly competitive.
Nadi Basket started the quarter with a reverse layup by Khaled Ouhab. Both teams maintained their intensity, with Ronald Kolmia responding after Rachez Missouma’s offensive rebound. The teams continued to trade baskets, but fatigue became apparent as both sides missed fast-break opportunities and committed unforced turnovers. After Nadi Basket called a timeout, Ronald Kolmia hit a deep three-pointer to cut the deficit to one, shifting momentum toward the Gabonese side.
Kurt-Curry Wegscheider converted two free throws to restore Nadi Basket’s three-point lead. Following a period of turnovers and missed opportunities, Jeremie Nzamba broke the deadlock with a layup for Espoir. The teams exchanged baskets, but Espoir finished the quarter strongly, entering halftime with a 37-35 lead after a challenging second quarter.
The third quarter got off to a really slow start with neither team able to convert for the first two minutes. Amine Nensalah broke the deadlock with a fast break after a turnover, drawing the foul and converting the three-point play. He was the answer the Algerian side was looking for, scoring another lay-up to give them a three-point advantage.
The Gabonese side quickly responded with a three-pointer from Nzamba to tie the game. Another scoring drought followed, but Nzamba broke through again with a fast-break layup after an unforced turnover. The Gabonese team gradually extended their lead, finishing the quarter ahead by seven points at 50-43. They anticipated a strong response from the Algerian side in the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was defined by momentum shifts, largely driven by ball control and the ability to capitalise on opportunities. Bensalah opened with a three-pointer, sparking an 11-0 run to start the quarter. Rachez Missouma briefly halted this run with a floater, but the Algerian side maintained their advantage as Hichem Dekakene added a three-pointer to keep Espoir at a distance.
The quarter progressed slowly, with Levine Obame scoring a layup. Both teams showed signs of fatigue, resulting in missed opportunities. Espoir reduced the deficit with another layup from Rachez Missouma. Still, Amine Bensalah maintained his strong performance, scoring consecutive layups and helping Nadi Basket secure a 66-59 victory.
Espoir Basket struggled to maintain momentum and could not contain Amine Bensalah, who led all scorers with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Espoir now faces a challenging path as they prepare to play group favourite Al Ittihad from Libya. However, both teams remain in contention for the semifinals.
