Nairobi City Thunder's Road to BAL journey revealed

Reigning Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) champions Nairobi City Thunder will begin their continental sojourn on 15-20 October, when they participate in the Road to BAL East Division group phase qualifiers in Kibaha, Tanzania.

The 2023-24 season champions are making their first appearance in the tournament, which offers them a route towards making next year’s Basketball Africa League finals.

Their first hurdle however will be for them to be among the top two sides in the East Division, to guarantee a place at the Elite 16 stage.

In Tanzania, Brad Ibs’ side is set to face off against hosts JKT, Ethiopia’s Hawassa City, Beau Vallon of Seychelles, Ushindzi of Comoros, and GNBC of Madagascar.

Thunder will feel optimistic of bettering Kenya Ports Authority’s performance last season, given the new signings the team has made to bolster their chances.

In October 2023, former league champions KPA lost two out of their three games to Tanzania’s Pazi and Burundi’s Dynamo BBC in the qualifiers to be knocked out of the run-in early.

Thunder has this year invested in a host of international names, bringing on the likes of Eugene Adera, Tyler Okari, and Derrick Ogechi to complement the Kenyan talent present.

Foreign names acquired include: William Sydney, Uchenna Iroegbu, and Michael Diogoye.

Nairobi City Thunder sign American, Nigerian, Senegalese ahead of BAL tourney

As part of the team’s preparations, Thunder has played two exhibition matches against Kenya All Stars and South Sudan Elite, winning both.