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Basketball Africa League: Petro, Tigers, Al Ahly, Dar City reach playoffs
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
RSSB Tigers of Rwanda, Petro de Luanda of Angola, Al Ahly Ly of Libya, and Dar City of Tanzania have qualified for the Basketball Africa League playoffs in Kigali, Rwanda, following the conclusion of the Kalahari Conference at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. The BAL media team stated that attention now shifts to the Sahara Conference in Rabat, Morocco, from April 24 to May 5, with playoffs scheduled for May 22 to 31 at BK Arena. In conference play, Nairobi City Thunder of Kenya defeated the previously unbeaten Tigers 101-92. Derrick Ogechi led Thunder with 22 points, and Tylor Ongwae contributed 17 points, six rebounds, and seven assists. Antino Jackson Jr. scored 24 points and nine assists for the Tigers. Petro de Luanda beat the Johannesburg Giants of South Africa 105-61. Javion Blake led Petro with 21 points and nine assists, while Aboubacar Gakou added 18 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Ozabor top-scored for the Giants with 19 points. The Tigers secured their playoff spot with an 82-78 win over Petro de Luanda, with Antino Jackson Jr. hitting a go-ahead three-pointer. Teafale Lenard Jr. led the Tigers with 26 points and five steals. Nairobi City Thunder also defeated the Johannesburg Giants 71-65, with Garang Diing scoring 24 points.
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The Federal Government has initiated a nationwide vocational and skills acquisition program for over 18,000 artisans and unemployed Nigerians. Training is scheduled to commence on Tuesday at 229 accredited centers across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. This initiative, implemented by the National Social Investment Programme Agency NSIPA, aims to provide participants with vocational skills, entrepreneurship training, and trade-specific starter packs to foster self-employment and reduce poverty. Dr. Bernard Doro, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, stated that the program aligns with President Bola Tinubu鈥檚 Renewed Hope Agenda, moving vulnerable Nigerians towards economic self-reliance. The two-week training targets individuals with existing basic vocational knowledge, offering additional technical skills to enhance productivity. The ministry has established a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, including a digital tracking system for beneficiaries and distributed starter packs. Badamasi Lawal, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, confirmed that the program will be delivered through accredited government technical colleges, vocational institutions, and approved training centers. Participants will receive training in 14 vocational trades, such as automobile technology, agriculture, baking, carpentry, electrical installation, and fashion design. Beneficiaries will also undergo entrepreneurship training cov
Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with the newly confirmed United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, in Abuja. This meeting aimed to strengthen security cooperation between the two nations. Garcia's visit to Nigeria is his first since assuming office on June 1, 2026, and is part of a West African tour that includes C么te d'Ivoire and Mali. Ribadu stated on X that the discussion reviewed progress by the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group and reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and cooperation on shared security priorities. Garcia, a 28-year US Navy veteran, previously served as a senior adviser to the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His appointment filled a vacancy in the Africa post that had lasted over a year.
The president of the Senegalese football federation, Abdoulaye Fall, stated on Monday that coach Pape Thiaw's salary demands created a toxic environment for the team at the World Cup. Thiaw, 45, was sacked on Sunday after Senegal's elimination in the last 32 by Belgium on July 1. Fall explained that a breakdown in trust occurred due to Thiaw's initial refusal to sign a new contract, as he had requested a salary increase from 20 million CFA to 30,000 CFA before the World Cup. Fall also mentioned that Thiaw threatened not to travel to the World Cup if his demands were not met, and it was Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye who convinced him to change his mind. The contract was eventually signed on the eve of their second game against Norway, after Thiaw reportedly refused to sit in the dugout until it was finalized. Fall indicated that Thiaw believed federation officials were his enemies, which affected the national team's operations. During the World Cup, the Lions of Teranga experienced two group stage defeats against France and Norway before a 5-0 victory over Iraq secured their place in the knockout rounds. Under Thiaw, Senegal had won the Africa Cup of Nations in January but were later stripped of the title for walking off the pitch during the final against Morocco.