German 
English Al Ahly denies Ville de Dakar final four spot with aggressive second-leg comeback.
Al Ahly Sporting Club defeated ASC Ville de Dakar 87–76 on May 24, 2026, to advance to the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Semifinals. The Egyptian champions successfully overturned their narrow three-point first-leg deficit, securing a critical 11-point victory at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The aggregate point differential ends Ville de Dakar’s historic championship run in the quarterfinals
Entering Game 2 with a slender 93–90 advantage from the opening leg, coach Mamadou Gaye’s men took the floor knowing that every possession would carry the weight of a nation. The Senegalese representatives showed massive character early on, matching the defensive intensity of the former champions and trading punches throughout a highly volatile first half. Ville de Dakar managed to carry a slim lead into the halftime locker room, putting immense pressure on the Cairo-based club.
However, the third quarter proved to be the turning point of the tie. Al Ahly adjusted their perimeter defensive rotations and turned up their transition game, spearheaded by an unstoppable performance from star forward Nuni Omot. The former BAL MVP weaponized his athleticism to break down Dakar’s half-court containment, shifting the momentum entirely in Egypt’s favor.
Despite valiant scoring bursts from Samba Daly Fall and Mamadou Lamine Diop, Ville de Dakar struggled to contain Al Ahly’s interior size down the stretch. The Egyptian side steadily opened up a double-digit lead, hunting the point differential needed to guarantee qualification. Dakar fought until the final buzzer to pull within striking distance, but Al Ahly closed out the game cleanly at the free-throw line, ending the match at 87–76 to book their tickets to the Final Four.
Despite the heartbreaking exit, Ville de Dakar leaves Kigali with its heads held high, having made history by breaking out of the Sahara Conference and proving they can stun Africa’s elite giants on the biggest stage.
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