The 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs got off to a flying start as former champions Al Ahly and postseason debutants ASC Ville de Dakar served a perfect opener.
The Senegalese side took lessons from the regular-season defeat to the Egyptians four weeks ago during conference play, with the side rebounding better and in the process edged the high-scoring encounter at the BK Arena, 93-90.
The start to the game was approached with caution from either side, played at a slow tempo, but still, the first quarter was very high-scoring with the Egyptians having the edge, 29-25, thanks largely to big man Omar Oraby, who glided easily through the paint for bunnies around the basket, Zach Lofton, who found range early and skipper Ehab Amin. On the other hand, star wing Axel Toupane and skipper Samba Fall made sure Dakar doesn’t fall far behind.
ASC Ville de Dakar responded with solid defence in the second quarter and quickly erased the deficit with a good mix of half-court sets and maximisation of transition opportunities from turnovers. Meanwhile, Nuni Omot started to come to life, asserting himself on the game, driving to the hole, but it was the Senegalese that had a two-point (47-45) lead at the half.
Al Ahly returned from the locker rooms cold, as Dakar started with an 8-0 run, forcing Pantelis Gavriel to call for time, but on return it was ASC that extended the lead to 12 (57-45). However, as the quarter faded, Al Ahly put pressure on the ball and rallied back through Kevin Murphy and Omot, trimming the deficit to just two points at the end of the period.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Murphy found Omot under the basket during the first possession of the fourth to level the game at 69 before edging ahead. However, Solo Diabate quickly took over for Dakar, running the pick and roll with Majok, a set that Al Ahly didn’t cover well all game.
The contest remained a close affair, and Murphy tied the game at 87 from the top of the mountain with just under three minutes to play. However, when Dakar went ahead through Taopane’s pair of foul shots, they did not relinquish the lead and hung on for a three-point win.
Toupane finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to lead ASC Ville de Dakar. Samba Fall added 18 points, and three of his other teammates, Majok (14), Diabate (11) and Lamine Diop (11) also scored in double digits.
Omot led Al Ahly with a relatively quiet game-high 23 points in a losing effort, and Kevin Murphy contributed 22 points. Oraby (12) and Amin (11) also scored in double figures.
The two sides will face off again on Sunday, May 24, to complete their quarterfinal series. Al Ahly will need to beat ASC Ville de Dakar by more than three points to advance to the semifinals.
