James Caron Butler Jr’s game-high 29 points were not enough to prevent Nigeria’s Maktown Flyers from suffering their second defeat of the ongoing 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL), as they fell 89-80 to 2023 champions Al Ahly of Egypt at the Salle Omnisports Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
The Nigerian representatives, who opened their debut BAL campaign with a victory over JCA Kings of Ivory Coast before losing to hosts FUS Rabat, were eager to return to winning ways. However, they were undone by the superior firepower and experience of their Egyptian opponents, led by standout performances from Osayimwen Olugbenga Osifo and Kevin Marquis Murphy.
Al Ahly’s dominance in the opening and closing quarters proved decisive. The Egyptians set the tone early with a commanding first-quarter display and, despite Maktown Flyers responding strongly in the middle periods, their experience shone through when it mattered most.
Maktown edged the second quarter 24-23 and the third quarter 19-18, showing resilience and determination to stay within reach. But Al Ahly raised their level once again in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Nigerians 19-14 to secure a deserved nine-point victory.
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Butler Jr delivered a scoring masterclass for Maktown Flyers, finishing with 29 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Hassan Drame and Jawad Adekoya each contributed 13 points, while Peter Olisemeka continued his impressive form with an all-around performance of 11 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
For Al Ahly, Kevin Marquis Murphy led the way with 22 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Osayimwen Olugbenga Osifo added 20 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in a dominant display.
Following back-to-back defeats, Maktown Flyers will now shift their focus to Friday, May 1, when they face unbeaten Club Africain. The Nigerian side will be determined to revive their campaign as they continue their push for a top-four finish, which would secure qualification for the BAL playoffs later this year in Kigali, Rwanda.
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