Rwanda's APR Drops Two Straight, Playoff Hopes Hang in the Balance at BAL Nile Conference 2025

Rwanda’s APR Basketball Club entered Tuesday’s highly anticipated matchup against Al Ahli Tripoli with high hopes. Both teams were undefeated at 2-0, and fans expected a clash at BK Arena. However, APR’s momentum was abruptly halted, and the absence of star forward Aliou Diarra proved to be a major setback for Coach James Maye’s squad.

Despite a competitive start and strong home support, APR struggled to maintain their rhythm as Al Ahli took control in the second half. The Libyan side dominated the third and fourth quarters, sealing a convincing 90–68 victory. Once again, Senegalese point guard Jean Jacques Boissy rose to the occasion, scoring a game-high 27 points. His teammate, Naseim Badrush, added an impressive 25. Boissy—who also plays locally for APR's rival REG—took visible pride in dismantling the Rwandan side.

ALSO READ: Boissy and Ndoye: Two Senegalese Stars Lead Their Teams to Victory on Day 2 of BAL Nile Conference 2025

APR’s key players underperformed, most notably big man Youssouph Ndoye, who committed several turnovers and struggled in the paint without Diarra’s leadership. Fans, though disheartened, tried to stay hopeful, saying, “Al Ahli is a big team—we’ll come back stronger and win the rest.”

But the redemption story didn’t go as planned. In Thursday’s clash against South Africa’s MBB, APR once again started strong but faltered in the second half. MBB dominated the third quarter 29–19, establishing a 10-point gap that APR could never recover from. Despite valiant efforts, APR fell 94–88, marking their second consecutive defeat.

With two losses in four games, APR’s path to the BAL Playoffs in South Africa has become steep. Al Ahli Tripoli now leads the Nile Conference with a perfect 4–0 record and has already secured qualification. Both APR and MBB stand at 2–2, but APR holds second place with a better point differential (+23) compared to MBB’s –25.

Current Standing - Source: BAL Website

ALSO READ: Al Ahli Tripoli seals BAL playoff berth first form the Nile conference

APR’s playoff fate now rests on their final two games: a rematch against the undefeated Al Ahli Tripoli on Saturday, May 24 at 5:30 PM, and their final group-stage game against Nairobi City Thunder on Sunday, May 25. While NCT has lost all four games and is out of playoff contention, Al Ahli may rest key players, giving APR a potential edge. Still, any misstep could send the home team packing.

APR fans will be watching closely—and hoping—for a resilient finish. The pressure is on.

A story by Gentil RAFIKI.