Club Africain Clinch First Sahara Conference Playoff Spot After Gritty Overtime Win

Club Africain became the first team to secure a playoff berth from the Sahara Conference after a hard-fought 79–74 overtime victory against JCA Kings in Rabat. The win marked their third straight triumph, maintaining a perfect start to the 2026 Basketball Africa League campaign.

Despite the result, Club Africain were pushed to the limit by a resilient JCA Kings side that controlled large stretches of the game. The Ivorians built a double-digit lead early and dominated the boards, leading by as many as 15 points in the first half while capitalizing on their physical presence inside.

The turning point came in the third quarter, when Club Africain tightened defensively and launched a 10–0 run to erase the deficit. Veteran guard Omar Abada sparked the comeback with a momentum-shifting basket, while Aminu Mohamed led the scoring with 21 points to guide the Tunisian side through a tense finish.

JCA Kings’ Jonathan Cissé delivered a standout 30-point performance, the first of its kind in the conference this season, but costly turnovers ultimately proved decisive. Club Africain’s efficiency—committing just four turnovers compared to 18 from their opponents—sealed a comeback win that guarantees their place in the BAL playoffs.