2024 BAL Nile Conference
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball tournament season
| title = Nile Conference
| year = 2024
| other_titles =
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| country = Egypt
| city = 6th of October, Cairo
| num_teams = 4
| venues = Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall
| dates = 19 – 27 April 2024
| defending_champions =
| winners = {{flagicon|EGY}} Al Ahly
| count = 1
| second =
| third =
| fourth =
| continental_cup_title =
| continental_cup_qualifiers =
| matches =
| attendance =
| stat_leader_title =
| stat_leader_player =
| stat_leader_value =
| updated =
| extra_information =
| prev_season =
| next_season = 2025
}}
The 2024 BAL Nile Conference was the 3rd season of the Nile Conference, one of the three conferences of the 2024 season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The composition of the conference and the schedule were announced on 15 February 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=Five New Teams, Three New Countries to Compete in 2024 BAL season Tipping Off on March 9th in South Africa |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/five-new-teams-three-new-countries-to-compete-in-2024-bal-season-tipping-off-on-march-9th-in-south-africa |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=The BAL |language=en}} The conference games began on 19 April and ended on 27 April 2024.
Al Ahly won the conference with a 5–1 record,{{Cite web |title=Al Alhy SC are the winners of the 2024 Nile Conference |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-alhy-sc-are-the-winners-of-the-2024-nile-conference |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The BAL |language=en}} and Al Ahly Ly qualified for the playoffs as second ranked team.
Standings
{{2024 BAL tables|Nile Conference|show_matches=no}}
Games
= Gameday 1 =
The two sides had met each other in the 2024 BAL qualification, where Bangui defeated Al Ahly 87–85 in the semifinal to qualify for the BAL season.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-04 |title=Bangui stun star-studded Benghazi to book first-ever BAL ticket |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/africaleague/2024/qualifiers/news/-bangui-stun-star-studded-benghazi-to-book-first-ever-bal-ticket |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=FIBA.basketball |language=en}}
Bangui opened the first quarter strong and scored its first nine points from behind the three-point line, and went up 29–26 after the first quarter. In the second, Al Ahly Ly went on a 15–0 run and never trailed again in the game. Their backcourt duo of Kevin Murphy and Pierre Jackson combined for 41 points.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=Patience key in Al Ahly Ly’s first-ever BAL win, says Diabate |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/patience-key-in-al-ahly-lys-first-ever-bal-win-says-diabate |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=The BAL |language=en}}
{{Basketballbox|date=19 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=ALL vs. BSC|teamA=Al Ahly Ly {{bkaicon|LBY}}|scoreA=93|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|CAF}} Bangui SC|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410678/bs.html Livestats]|scoreB=71|Q1=23–29|Q2=31–13|Q3=18–16|Q4=21–13|points1=Murphy 21|rebounds1=Deng 8|assist1=Jackson 11|points2=Fula Nganga 19|rebounds2=Nwabuzor 9|assist2=Nwabuzor 4|referee=Kaz Beverly, Sara Elsharnouby, Claudio Eiuba|attendance=975|time=4:00 PM}}Al Ahly and City Oilers played their second BAL game, after Al Ahly had won in the previous season's Nile Conference. In the second quarter, Al Ahly used a 19–0 run to take the lead and never trailed again the comprehensive win.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-19 |title=Al Ahly SC improve home record to 5-1 with comprehensive win over City Oilers |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-ahly-sc-improve-home-record-to-5-1-with-comprehensive-win-over-city-oilers |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=The BAL |language=en}} Ehab Amin led his team with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists, while Mark Lyons contributed 14 points for the Egyptians.{{Cite web |title=Al Ahly vs. City Oilers |url=https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410682/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=FIBA Livestats}} Patrick Rembert scored 21 points for the Oilers while BAL Elevate youngster Khaman Maluach recorded 16 points and 8 rebounds off the bench for the Oilers.{{Basketballbox|date=19 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=ALL vs. BSC|teamA=Al Ahly {{bkaicon|EGY}}|scoreA=99|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|UGA}} City Oilers|time=7:00 PM|Q1=28–16|Q2=25–19|Q3=26–21|Q4=20–20|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410682/ Livestats]|scoreB=76|points1=Amin 16|rebounds1=Mitchell 8|assist1=Amin, Elgizawy 5|points2=Rembert 21|rebounds2=Maluach 8|assist2=Rembert 6|attendance=2,027|referee=Kladji Mulla, Mbaye Seye, Silver Houngbedji}}
= Gameday 2 =
In their second game, Thierry Darlan led Bangui SC to record their first ever win in the BAL.{{Cite web |title=Ganapamo, Darlan dominate against City Oilers in historic win |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/ganapamo-darlan-punish-city-oilers-in-historic-win |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=The BAL |language=en}} Rolly Fula Nganga and Evans Ganapamo added City Oilers center Khaman Maluach set new career-highs of 29 points and 11 rebounds and got his first BAL double-double at 17 years old.{{Basketballbox|date=20 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=BSC vs. COB|teamA=Bangui SC {{bkaicon|CAF}}|scoreA=101|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|UGA}} City Oilers|time=4:00 PM|Q1=23–26|Q2=27–17|Q3=25–27|Q4=26–18|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410685/ Livestats]|scoreB=88|points1=Darlan 22|rebounds1=Darlan 10|assist1=Nwabuzor 10|points2=Maluach 29|rebounds2=Maluach 11|assist2=Culpepper, Rembert 5|attendance=543|referee=Kelsey Reynolds, Annie Joyce Muchenu, Oumar Sy}}{{Basketballbox|date=20 April 2024|bg=|id=ALL vs. BSC|teamA=Al Ahly {{bkaicon|EGY}}|scoreA=98|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|LBY}} Al Ahly Ly|time=7:00 PM|Q1=20–21|Q2=22–18|Q3=27–19|Q4=29–28|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410686/ Livestats]|scoreB=88|points1=Lyons 20|rebounds1=Three players 6|assist1=Gendy 5|points2=Jackson 26|rebounds2=Lual-Acuil 9|assist2=Diabate, Jackson 5|attendance=2,115|referee=Kenneth Gardner, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Amir Taboubi}}
= Gameday 3 =
{{Basketballbox|date=22 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=COB vs ALB|teamA=City Oilers {{bkaicon|UGA}}|scoreA=68|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|LBY}} Al Ahly Ly|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410687/ Livestats]|scoreB=79|Q1=11–25|Q2=13–25|Q3=24–11|Q4=20–18|points1=Rembert 17|rebounds1=Maluach 19|assist1=Baale, Rembert 2|points2=Lual-Acuil 22|rebounds2=Diabate 9|assist2=Diabate 11|referee=Kladji Mulla, Amir Taboubi, Oumar Sy|attendance=450|time=4:00 PM}}With 4:45 to go in the game, Bangui SC took the lead following a three-pointer by Thierry Darlan. Al Ahly then used a 8–0 lead to win the game.{{Cite web |title=Al Ahly SC pass toughest test of the first round with hard-fought win over Bangui SC |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-ahly-sc-pass-toughest-test-of-the-first-round-with-hard-fought-win-over-bangui-sc |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Basketballbox|date=22 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=BSC vs. AHL|teamA=Bangui SC {{bkaicon|CAF}}|scoreA=79|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly|time=7:00 PM|Q1=18–21|Q2=20–22|Q3=19–20|Q4=22–22|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410688/ Livestats]|scoreB=85|points1=Fula Nganga 27|rebounds1=Darlan 14|assist1=Darlan, Nwabuzor 3|points2=Three players 14|rebounds2=Mitchell 7|assist2=Lyons, Mitchell 3|attendance=1,895|referee=Kaz Beverly, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Annie Joyce Muchenu}}
= Gameday 4 =
{{Basketballbox|date=24 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=BSC vs. AAL|teamA=Bangui SC {{bkaicon|CAF}}|scoreA=96|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|LBY}} Al Ahly Ly|time=4:00 PM|Q1=15–16|Q2=32–29|Q3=24–12|Q4=25–34|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410689/ Livestats]|scoreB=93|points1=Fula Nganga 30|rebounds1=Darlan 14|assist1=Wegscheider 6|points2=Lual-Acuil 22|rebounds2=Lual-Acuil 10|assist2=Diabate, Jackson 5|attendance=453|referee=Kelsey Reynolds, Mbaye Seye, Sara Elsharnouby}}{{Basketballbox|date=24 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=COB vs ASC|teamA=City Oilers {{bkaicon|UGA}}|scoreA=82|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410690/ Livestats]|scoreB=81|Q1=23–21|Q2=15–14|Q3=18–19|Q4=26–17|points1=Maluach 27|rebounds1=Maluach 16|assist1=Miller Jr. 4|points2=Gardner 19|rebounds2=Amin, Gardner 8|assist2=Lyons, Mitchell 4|referee=Kenneth Gardner, Claudio Eiuba, Silver Hongbedji|attendance=2,589|time=7:00 PM}}
= Gameday 5 =
{{Basketballbox|date=26 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=BSC vs. COB|teamA=City Oilers {{flagicon|UGA}}|scoreA=76|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|CAF}} Bangui SC|time=4:00 PM|Q1=12–19|Q2=22–27|Q3=27–18|Q4=15–17|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410691/bs.html Livestats]|scoreB=91|points1=Rembert 21|rebounds1=Maluach 13|assist1=Culpepper 6|points2=Ngaïfei 22|rebounds2=Ngaïfei 11|assist2=Darlan 7|attendance=678|referee=Kaz Beverly, Sara Elsharnouby, Oumar Sy}}{{Basketballbox|date=26 April 2024|bg=|id=AAL vs. ASC|teamA=Al Ahly Ly {{bkaicon|LBY}}|scoreA=76|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|EGY}} Al Ahly|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410692/ Livestats]|scoreB=87|time=7:00 PM|Q1=21–25|Q2=24–17|Q3=18–27|Q4=13–18|points1=Lual-Acuil 26|rebounds1=Lual-Acuil 15|assist1=Jackson 10|points2=Mitchell 16|rebounds2=Amin, Oraby 9|assist2=Lyons 7|attendance=Kladji Mulla, Mbaye Seye, Amir Taboubi|referee=2,730}}
= Gameday 6 =
Going into the last gameday, Bangui SC could win the conference following a win over Al Ahly and City Oilers could theoretically qualify for the third place.{{Cite web |title=What’s at stake on the last day of the 2024 Nile Conference? |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/whats-at-stake-on-the-last-day-of-the-2024-nile-conference |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The BAL |language=en}} In the win that clinched Al Ahly Ly's playoff spot, Jo Lual-Acuil set a new BAL record for most points in a single game with 42 points.{{Cite web |title=What’s at stake on the last day of the 2024 Nile Conference? |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/whats-at-stake-on-the-last-day-of-the-2024-nile-conference |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The BAL |language=en}}{{Basketballbox|date=27 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=AAH vs. COB|teamA=Al Ahly Ly {{bkaicon|LBY}}|scoreA=110|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{bkaicon|UGA}} City Oilers|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410693/bs.html Livestats]|scoreB=78|time=4:00 PM|Q1=20–22|Q2=32–20|Q3=23–24|Q4=35–12|points1=Lual-Acuil 42|rebounds1=Lual-Acuil 13|assist1=Diabate 8|points2=Ahmed, Culpepper 14|rebounds2=Maluach 13|assist2=Miller Jr. 10|referee=Kenneth Gardner, Annie Joyce Muchenu, Claudio Eiuba|attendance=435}}Following their convincing win over Bangui SC, Al Ahly won their first conference title.{{Cite web |title=Al Alhy SC are the winners of the 2024 Nile Conference |url=https://bal.nba.com/news/al-alhy-sc-are-the-winners-of-the-2024-nile-conference |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=The BAL |language=en}} Because of the result, Kalahari Conference team Cape Town Tigers qualified for the playoffs as one of the two best third-placed teams, while Bangui had to wait for the results of the Sahara Conference.{{Basketballbox|date=27 April 2024|bg=#eee|id=ASC vs. BSC|teamA=Al Ahly {{bkaicon|EGY}}|scoreA=94|place=Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall, 6th of October|teamB={{flagicon|CAF}} Bangui SC|report=[https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/BAL/2410694/ Livestats]|scoreB=71|time=7:00 PM|Q1=28–15|Q2=25–17|Q3=21–21|Q4=20–18|points1=Ali 13|rebounds1=Gardner 7|assist1=Three players 6|rebounds2=Djimbaraye 11|points2=Wegscheider 16|assist2=Wegscheider 4|referee=Kelsey Reynolds, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Silver Houngbedji|attendance=3,003}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Category !Player !Team(s) !Statistic |
| Points per game
|Al Ahly Ly |23.0 |
| Rebounds per game
|City Oilers |13.5 |
| Assists per game
| rowspan="2" |Solo Diabate | rowspan="2" |Al Ahly Ly |7.0 |
| Steals per game
|2.3 |
| Blocks per game
|Khaman Maluach |City Oilers |2.8 |