The Basketball African League season 5 opener saw Nigeria’s ranked basketball team, Rivers Hoopers, breeze past the Malian side, whom they recently beat.
The team based in Rivers State, Nigeria, gave their Malian counterparts a run for their money as they won three quarters of the stipulated four, 27-21, 17-10, 20-7 and 15-21.
It was expected by many basketball lovers that Rivers Hoopers would win because statistics gathered from a voting poll done on Sofasports, 92% of the 197 people who participated in the poll predicted that the Nigerian team would win while only 8% put their faith in Stade Malien.
Also Read: Rivers Hoopers Soar to 2-0 in BAL Kalahari Conference with Victory Over FUS De Rabat
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone who follows the BAL that such a number of people believe in Rivers Hoopers, seeing that they recently beat the same opposition 81-61 a few days ago in the Kalahari Conference.
This victory is a statement for the team as other contenders will be looking keenly at them moving forward.
Hoopers sit 2nd on the standings with 4 wins from 6, having lost twice to Egyptian side Al Etihad Alexandria, who have a 100% record, after winning 5 of their 5 games so far.
