AFCON 2025
Al Ittihad secured the 2025 Kalahari Conference title on Saturday with an emphatic 94-77 victory over Rivers Hoopers, their second win over the Nigerian champions in just a week.
The Hoopers started strong, matching Al Ittihad point for point in a tightly contested first quarter that ended 19-19. But from the second quarter onward, the Egyptian side took complete control, showcasing their long-range shooting prowess to pull away convincingly.
Al Ittihad, now 5-0 in the conference, made a statement with 14 three-pointers on 33 attempts. Veteran sharpshooter Youssef Mohamed Aboushousha was flawless, contributing 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting.
By halftime, Al Ittihad had opened up a commanding 49-29 lead that proved insurmountable. Seven different players connected from beyond the arc, underlining their depth and shooting strength.
Majok Deng once again stood out off the bench, leading all scorers with 18 points and solidifying his reputation as the conference’s most effective substitute.
Despite losing the rebounding battle 47-36, Al Ittihad’s cohesive play and offensive firepower were too much for the Hoopers.
In total, eleven Al Ittihad players registered at least two points, reflecting the team’s balanced scoring effort.
For Rivers Hoopers, Madut Akec led the way with 17 points, while Kelvin Amayo added 11.
Speaking after the game, Aboushousha credited their offensive rhythm to the Hoopers’ defensive approach: “They played zone defense for most of the game, which gave us plenty of open looks.”
With this triumph, Al Ittihad becomes the third Egyptian club to win a BAL conference title, following in the footsteps of Zamalek (2022) and Al Ahly (2024).
Al Ittihad will round off their group campaign on Sunday, April 13, against hosts FUS Rabat. Rivers Hoopers will also be in action, facing Stade Malien in their final conference fixture.
