AL AHLY ARE THE 2023 BAL CHAMPIONS

Al Ahly emerged victorious in the 2023 BAL (Basketball Africa League) championship, defeating AS Douanes with a final score of 80-65. The game saw Al Ahly take control in the third quarter, securing a substantial lead that AS Douanes couldn't overcome. During the first half, both teams struggled to score, resulting in a slim 38-33 advantage for Al Ahly at halftime. However, Al Ahly's Corey Webster and Ehab Amin made crucial three-point shots in the third quarter, extending their team's lead to 57-44. AS Douanes couldn't mount a sufficient response and only held a brief lead of 23 seconds after Chris Crawford's early three-pointer. A significant factor in Al Ahly's success was their strategic game plan to neutralize Crawford, who finished the game with 9 points but fouled out in the crucial stages of the fourth quarter. Amin, who had a challenging first half, played a pivotal role, contributing 9 points in the third quarter and emphasizing the importance of stopping Crawford. Nuni Omot delivered a standout performance for Al Ahly, scoring a game-high 22 points, while Corey Webster added 13 points coming off the bench. Omot's exceptional contributions earned him the title of the 2023 BAL MVP, an honor previously won by legendary Egyptian basketball team Zamalek in the inaugural BAL season. Adama Diakhite, who contributed 14 points off the bench, expressed disappointment in AS Douanes' loss but acknowledged that it is part of the game. He highlighted their shooting struggles from the three-point line and credited Al Ahly for capitalizing on those situations. With the victory, Al Ahly secured their second continental title since 2016, becoming the second Egyptian team to win the BAL championship after Zamalek's triumph in 2021. The team finished the 2023 BAL campaign with an impressive overall record of 7-1. As a result of their championship win, Al Ahly earned the opportunity to represent Africa at the upcoming FIBA Intercontinental Cup, further solidifying their status as a dominant force in African basketball. The exciting final match drew a crowd of 7,964 fans to the BK Arena, who witnessed Al Ahly's triumph.