{"id":103345,"date":"2025-06-11T17:26:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis"},"modified":"2025-06-11T17:49:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T17:49:42","slug":"apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis","title":{"rendered":"APR and Al Ahli: Four Key Battles in BAL Semis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>APR will make its debut appearance in the semi-finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Wednesday, June 11, facing off against Libyan giants Al Ahli Tripoli in a game that is expected to be fiercely contested.<\/p>\n

Scheduled for 4 PM in Pretoria, South Africa, the match will be the first semi-final of the day, followed by the second semi-final at 7 PM between Egypt\u2019s Al Ittihad and Angola\u2019s Petro de Luanda.<\/p>\n

To reach the semi-finals, APR dominated Nigeria\u2019s Rivers Hoopers 104-73 in the quarter-finals, while Al Ahli defeated Cape Verde\u2019s KPA Kriol Stars 107-81.<\/p>\n

The Rwandan side has already faced Al Ahli Tripoli twice during the Nile Conference held in Kigali late last month, losing both encounters, the first 68-90 and the second 102-106.<\/p>\n

Speaking about the two teams\u2019 most recent game, APR head coach James Maye Jr. said his boys are preparing to deal with Al Ahli\u2019s speed as well as making sure that they avoid turnovers.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to make sure that we are taking, that we are getting the basketball, we are getting the rebound, limiting their attempts on the rim. And then also just being able to protect the basketball once we get it and get the ball down to the other end and execute,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

As the teams gear up for the game, Times Sport presents four key individual battles to watch.<\/p>\n

1. Obadiah Noel vs Jean Jacques Boissy<\/b><\/p>\n

A battle of point guards pits APR\u2019s American floor general Obadiah Noel against Senegalese star Jean Jacques Boissy.<\/p>\n

Statistically, Boissy has had the upper hand in BAL 2025, averaging 21.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, compared to Noel\u2019s 15.1 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 rebounds. Noel, however, edges Boissy in playmaking, with his 3.5 assists per game.<\/p>\n

Nicknamed “Mutabazi” in Rwanda, Noel is known for his strength, creativity, and memorable buzzer-beater that lifted APR past US Monastir during the Sahara Conference in Dakar in 2024. He brings NBA G League experience, having played for the Indiana Mad Ants and Westchester Knicks.<\/p>\n

Boissy, meanwhile, has a strong BAL presence, especially this season where he has been a reliable offensive engine for Al Ahli.<\/p>\n

2. Youssou Ndoye vs Assem Marei<\/b><\/p>\n

In the paint, Senegalese centre Youssou Ndoye will lock horns with Egyptian counterpart Assem Marei.<\/p>\n

Ndoye has averaged 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game for APR. Standing at 2.13m, he brings vast experience from stints with the Austin Spurs (NBA G League), Daegu KOGAS Pegasus (Korea), and JL Bourg (France).<\/p>\n

Marei, who previously featured for teams including Egypt\u2019s Zamalek and played college basketball at Minnesota State, has recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists per game, giving him an edge in playmaking and rebounding.<\/p>\n

3. Nuni Omot vs Deon Thompson<\/b><\/p>\n

South Sudanese forward Nuni Omot has quickly become a key piece for APR, averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in just two playoff appearances. A player who boasts exposure as he plays for the Beijing Ducks in China and a standout for the South Sudan national team, Omot brings great understanding of the game, as well as a skillset of scoring and passing.<\/p>\n

He will be up against Al Ahli\u2019s Deon Thompson, a forward who has averaged 11 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. Thompson\u2019s re\u0301sume\u0301 includes stints with clubs including Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n

4. Aliou Diarra vs Wajdi Dawo<\/b><\/p>\n

Aliou Diarra has been APR\u2019s top performer this BAL season, contributing across the board with 19 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. The Malian forward, who joined from Moroccan champions FUS Rabat, is known for his athleticism, shot-blocking, and end-to-end game.<\/p>\n

Facing him is Wajdi Dawo of Al Ahli, who has averaged 3.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game. Diarra holds a statistical advantage, and his impact on both ends of the floor could be crucial to APR\u2019s chances of advancing to the BAL final.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. APR will make its debut appearance in the semi-finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Wednesday, June 11, facing off against Libyan giants Al Ahli Tripoli in a game that is expected to be fiercely contested. Scheduled for 4 PM in Pretoria, South Africa, the match will be the first semi-final […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":103344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,18],"tags":[7383,6297,3878,7446,758],"class_list":["post-103345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-al-ahli-tripoli","tag-aliou-diarra","tag-apr-bbc","tag-assem-marei","tag-rwanda"],"yoast_head":"\nAPR and Al Ahli: Four Key Battles in BAL Semis - Rwanda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"APR will make its debut appearance in the semi-finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Wednesday, June 11, facin ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"APR and Al Ahli: Four Key Battles in BAL Semis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"APR will make its debut appearance in the semi-finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Wednesday, June 11, facin ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rwanda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-11T17:26:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-11T17:49:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2025\/06\/sm_1749651558.683167.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"604\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"APR and Al Ahli: Four Key Battles in BAL Semis\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-11T17:26:59+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-11T17:49:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis\"},\"wordCount\":654,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2025\/06\/sm_1749651558.683167.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Al Ahli Tripoli\",\"Aliou Diarra\",\"APR BBC\",\"Assem Marei\",\"Rwanda\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"Sport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/apr-and-al-ahli-four-key-battles-in-bal-semis\",\"name\":\"APR and Al Ahli: Four Key Battles in BAL Semis - 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