Africa-Press – Tanzania. TANZANIA’S Dar City made a powerful statement in the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference, cruising to a commanding 100–70 victory over hosts Johannesburg Giants on Friday evening in Pretoria, South Africa.
Dar City delivered an emphatic performance from the opening tip-off, overwhelming the Giants with relentless offence and disciplined execution. The Tanzanian champions dominated from the outset, storming to a 31–12 first-quarter lead before maintaining control through the remaining quarters (26–18, 24–20, 19–20) to seal an emphatic win.
The hosts struggled to contain Dar City’s attacking firepower, particularly standout performers Nisre Zouzoua and David Michineau, who combined for an impressive 62 points to anchor the victory.
In another match, Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers edged Libya’s Al Ahly 103–95 in a high-scoring encounter.
Giants centre Craig reflected on his matchup against former NBA star and Dar City player Hasheem Thabeet, praising the veteran’s impact.
“I have a lot of respect for Thabeet. He was someone I admired as a child. It was great to bring some physicality to the game against him, but a player of his experience made some fantastic plays. He definitely made it tough for me in some situations,” he said.
The Giants will look to bounce back today when they face Nairobi City Thunder, who were scheduled to meet Dar City yesterday.
Dar City, meanwhile, face a demanding fixture schedule, with upcoming matches against Al Ahly on Tuesday, Petro Atlético of Angola on April 3 and a final group clash against RSSB Tigers a day later.
Heading into the tournament, Dar City signaled their intent to compete at the highest level by assembling a strong and balanced squad that blends local talent with international experience.
Among the key additions is Tanzanian guard Atiki Ally, who plays professionally in New Mexico, USA, bringing valuable international exposure to the team.
The squad is further bolstered by high-profile signings, including French guard David Michineau of AS Monaco, South Sudan’s Junior Madut and Nisre Zouzoua, who joined from Morocco’s FUS Rabat.
Additional reinforcements include Deng Junior, who brought European experience that strengthens Dar City’s competitiveness on the continental stage.
Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Paul Makonda, has rallied behind the team, urging them to maintain strong performance while calling for greater public support for basketball.
He emphasised discipline, unity and patriotism, reminding players of their responsibility to represent the nation with pride.
