Maktown Flyers face Ivorian champion in BAL opener

Nigeria’s Maktown Flyers will begin their Basketball Africa League campaign today with a clash against Ivory Coast’s Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan Kings at the Salle Omnisports Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The fixture, scheduled for 3:00pm Nigerian time, marks the Flyers’ debut in the competition, as they join Club Africain and JCA Kings among three teams making their first appearance in the 2026 Sahara Conference.

JCA Kings head into the contest looking to respond to an opening defeat after losing to hosts FUS Rabat in their first game of the tournament on Friday.

The match forms part of the Sahara Conference group phase, which is being held in the Moroccan capital from April 24 to May 3, with six teams competing in a round-robin format across eight matchdays.

The top four sides will progress to the BAL playoffs in May, while the bottom teams will be eliminated.

Flyers arrive as Nigeria’s newest representatives in the league following a remarkable rise that saw them claim the 2025 national title.

The Makurdi-based side, formerly known for youth basketball development, stunned established teams by defeating Rivers Hoopers 74–72 in the final, to secure their place on the continental stage.

Their rapid ascent included acquiring the Lagos Legends’ franchise rights shortly before their title-winning campaign, after which they rebranded as the Maktown Flyers.

Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed, a former Nigeria international and ex-D’Tigers coach, has expressed confidence in his team despite their limited experience at this level.

He suggested that determination and ambition could compensate for their relative inexperience.

“While experience is valuable, the desire to succeed on such a big stage can often bridge the gap and push teams beyond expectations,” Moh ammed said.

He added that the team’s preparation has centred on building cohesion among players drawn from different backgrounds within a short timeframe.

“A major focus for the team in the build-up to the tournament has been building chemistry among players recruited from different leagues and cultural backgrounds,” he added.

“With just a few weeks to prepare, it has been a challenging process, but there is satisfaction with the progress made on both ends of the court.”

Among the players to watch in the encounter is Jawad Adekoya, who previously featured in the BAL with Kwara Falcons and impressed with his scoring ability, averaging 11.2 points per game during his debut campaign.

JCA Kings, meanwhile, boast experienced figures such as Chris Crawford, a seasoned shooting guard entering his fifth BAL season, and Jonathan Cisse, whose shooting ability played a key role in their qualification, helping the team win seven of eight Road to BAL games.

The Ivorian side are led by head coach Stephane Konate, a former FIBA Africa Champions Cup winner and the first former BAL player to take charge of a team in the competition.

The Flyers’ squad includes James Butler Jr, Tolani Buhari, Tyrell Corbin, Lucky Okoh, Hassan Drame, Jawad Adekoya, Thomas Okoh, Ibrahim Doumbia, Ogbodeje Abah, Bright Akhuetie, Ofure Ayedole Ujadughele, Peter Olisemeka and Dramane Tounkara.

As they prepare for their first appearance on the continental stage, Flyers will look to translate their domestic success into a strong start, while JCA Kings aim to recover from their opening setback in what promises to be a closely contested encounter in Rabat.