BAL Playoffs 2026: Dakar stun Al Ahly in Game 1 of quarterfinal series

ASC Ville de Dakar delivered a major upset by defeating Al Ahly in Game 1 of their Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs 2026 quarterfinal series. In a high-tempo thriller in Kigali, the Senegalese side secured a narrow 93-90 victory to take a crucial early lead in the series.

The game featured constant momentum swings, with Dakar stepping up in key moments behind a standout all-around performance from Axel Toupane, who finished with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. Samba Fall also provided key scoring support with 18 points. As for Souleyman Diabaté, he once again brought all his experience to organizing the Dakar team's offense, finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Despite strong offensive outings from Nuni Omot (23 points) and Kevin Murphy (22 points), Al Ahly fell short in crunch time as Dakar’s physicality and execution made the difference. With the series still in its early stage, everything remains to be decided in Game 2.