Nairobi hosted a key matchup in the Basketball Africa League’s Elite 16 Division East on Tuesday, as Dar City continued its pursuit of a playoff berth. Following a strong showing in the regular season, Dar City demonstrated its dominance with a decisive 93-75 victory over Malawi’s Bravehearts, remaining undefeated in the tournament’s second round [[3]]. The win solidifies Dar City’s position atop the division as they compete among twelve teams vying for the BAL championship [[1]].
NAIROBI (Kenya) — Dar City continued its impressive run towards a potential playoff berth in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), securing a dominant 93–75 victory over Malawi’s Bravehearts in their second Elite 16 Division East matchup. The win keeps Dar City undefeated in the tournament.
Nisre Zouzoua spearheaded the attack, delivering a game-high 28 points alongside seven rebounds and three steals for a commanding performance valued at 29. Dar City’s balanced scoring saw three additional players reach double figures, solidifying their second consecutive win.
Solo Diabaté orchestrated the offense with 14 assists, while Deng Angok Yak Deng contributed 17 points, just ahead of Youssou Ndoye’s 16 off the bench. Raphiael Putney added 15 points to the tally.
Unlike their opening game, where they started slowly, Dar City, coached by Mamadou Gueye, came out firing, establishing a 10–4 lead early on. Putney ignited the offense with eight points in the first quarter, which ended with Dar City ahead 23–15.
Ndoye kickstarted the second quarter, and Zouzoua quickly followed, adding five points to his first-quarter total of five, pushing Dar City’s advantage to 32–20. The Ivorian international continued his scoring spree, adding another ten points before a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Vincent Masiyano sent the teams into halftime with Dar City leading 46-33.
The Bravehearts struggled to contain Dar City’s momentum in the third quarter as Gueye’s team intensified its pressure, with Diabate playing a key role in pushing the score past 50 points.
Zouzoua then connected on a three-pointer to extend the lead to 53-34 – their largest of the game. Four more successful shots from beyond the arc effectively sealed the quarter for Dar City, outscoring the Bravehearts 32–10.
Gueye utilized the final quarter to give playing time to his reserves, allowing Malawi to close the period with a 32-15 run. However, the Bravehearts’ late surge proved insufficient to overcome the substantial deficit.
“We are satisfied with these consecutive victories but we still have work to do to find a better rhythm in the games. We had a better start than yesterday, executed together as a unit and took advantage of our opportunities to extend the lead when we could. We will maintain the momentum before the last group game, bringing the same energy and heart,” said Nisre Zouzoua after the game.
FIBA
