Nairobi City Thunder Bal Kalahari Conference

Nairobi City Thunder head coach Bradley Ibs has rallied fans to throw their weight behind the national champions as they begin their Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference campaign on Saturday against Tanzania’s Dar City in Pretoria, South Africa.

‎Now in its sixth season, BAL 2026 will bring together 12 elite clubs from across the continent, battling it out in a 42-game slate split between the Kalahari and Sahara Conferences in a high-stakes race to the playoffs.

‎

Cup pressure peaks as Shabana host Kenya Police in blockbuster quarter-final Football

Upper Hill coach Walgwe unperturbed despite drawing giants in Prescott Cup group phase Rugby

‎The Kalahari Conference group phase will run from March 27 to April 5 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. The Sahara Conference will run from April 24 to May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco, before the playoffs and finals tip off from May 22 to 31 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

‎

‎In Pretoria, Thunder find themselves in a loaded six-team field featuring Angola’s powerhouse Petro de Luanda, hosts Johannesburg Giants, Libya’s Al Ahly, Tanzania’s Dar City and Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers. ‎It’s a bruising lineup, and Thunder will need to bring their A-game from the opening tip.

‎

‎Petro de Luanda arrive as seasoned BAL campaigners with a pedigree on the continental stage, while the Johannesburg Giants will be eager to light up their home court. Al Ahly come in with serious credentials as 2025 finalists, and Dar City are not only Tanzania’s reigning champions but also making history as the country’s first BAL representatives.

‎

RSSB Tigers, stepping in for Rwanda’s APR, complete the competitive cast. ‎Thunder open their campaign with a regional derby against Dar City at 3 pm on Saturday before locking horns with the Johannesburg Giants on Sunday. They then face Petro de Luanda on April 1, take on Al Ahly two days later and wrap up their group phase against RSSB Tigers on April 5.

‎

‎With only the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, every possession, every defensive stand and every bucket will count. ‎Ibs believes his squad has put in the groundwork and is primed to compete.

‎

‎“We have been working hard, and we want to make all our Kenyan and Thunder basketball fans proud,” Ibs said. ‎“We are just looking forward to our first game on Saturday.”

‎The tactician also made a passionate call to fans back home to rally behind the team as they carry the nation’s hopes onto the continental stage.

‎“We ask for all your support as we represent Kenya.”

‎

‎Ibs further underlined a renewed identity within the squad, pointing to a stronger emphasis on the local core and a sharper, more cohesive brand of basketball. ‎“This year’s squad, compared to last year, I think we’ll see more of us prioritising our local core. Hopefully, people will see what they have come to expect of a Thunder brand of basketball.”

‎

‎His confidence is anchored in experience, following Thunder’s debut on the continental stage last season. The Kenyan champions featured in the 2025 Nile Conference in Kigali but fell short of the playoffs after posting a 1-5 record. Their lone bright spot was a spirited 85-76 win over South Africa’s MMB.