2024–25 Nairobi City Thunder season

The 2024–25 Nairobi City Thunder is the 25th season of the Nairobi City Thunder. The team will play in the KBF Premier League and made its debut in both the qualifying rounds and the main tournament of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

As the national champions, they qualified for the Road to BAL, the qualifying rounds of the Basketball Africa League(BAL). In the 2024 offseason, the Thunder signed Tylor Ongwae, who joined the team after playing nine seasons in Europe.^[1] They also strengthened the roster with foreign players, including Will Davis and Uchenna Iroegbu.^[2] After advancing past the first round, the Thunder further increased their firepower by attracting continental veterans Abdoulaye Harouna and Ater Majok, who had both played in each previous BAL season.^[3] On December 2, they defeated City Oilers in the semifinals to qualify for the 2025 BAL season as the first Kenyan team in history.^[4]

In the 2025 BAL main season, they were allocated in the Nile Conference. In the meantime, star players Majok and Harouna had signed with other BAL teams.^[5] The Kenyans suffered heavy losses at the hands of Al Ahli Tripoli and APR, however, they were able to win one game against MBB, the first win by a Kenyan team.^[6] Nevertheless, the Thunder finished with a 1–5 record, leading to elimination in the group phase.^[7]

Rosters

Road to BAL roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Nairobi City Thunder roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. G 0 Ogechi, Derrick 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 1 Diing, Garang G 2 Iroegbu, Uchenna 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 82 kg (181 lb) PG 7 Wachira, Kennedy 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) SG 11 Adera, Eugene 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) F 12 Ongwae, Tylor 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 93 kg (205 lb) PF 15 Koranga, Okall 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) G/F 20 Odero, Albert 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 21 Abuoch, Aboat F/C 40 Davis, Will 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 103 kg (227 lb) C 55 Okoth, Fidel 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) F Mwangi, James 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 81 kg (179 lb) PG Ligare Wisyuba, Griffin 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)	Head coach Brad Ibs Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster Updated: December 1, 2024

BAL roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Nairobi City Thunder roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age G 1 Ganapamo, Evans 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 30 – (1994-08-19)19 August 1994 PG 2 Iroegbu, Uchenna 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 28 – (1996-08-20)20 August 1996 G 4 Ogechi, Derrick 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 26 – (1998-12-26)26 December 1998 F 6 Davis, Will (I) 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 32 – (1992-09-11)11 September 1992 F 10 Diing, Garang 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 24 – (2001-02-02)2 February 2001 PG 11 Adera, Eugene 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 27 – (1997-09-29)29 September 1997 PG 12 Etyang, David 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 20 – (2004-12-03)3 December 2004 PF 13 Kabongo, Yohane 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 17 – (2007-12-07)7 December 2007 G 14 Odera, Albert 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 28 – (1997-06-21)21 June 1997 PF 15 Koranga, Ariel 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 35 – (1990-03-18)18 March 1990 F 23 Ongwae, Tylor 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 34 – (1991-07-15)15 July 1991 C 24 Diong, Cheikh 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 25 – (1999-12-12)12 December 1999 PF 41 Ereng, Paul 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 28 – (1996-10-07)7 October 1996	Head coach Brad Ibs Assistant coach(es) Rose Mkaigho Mshilla Mathew Binder Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster Updated: May 13, 2025

Games

Road to BAL

Main article: 2025 BAL season

The Thunder entered the Road to BAL as the KBF Premier League champions.

  Win   Loss   Fixtures

First round

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Urunani	4	4	0	247	149	+98	8	Advance to Elite 16
2	Nairobi City Thunder	4	3	1	359	270	+89	7
3	GNBC	4	2	2	303	352	−49	6
4	JKT (H)	4	1	3	260	317	−57	5
5	Beau Vallon Heat	4	0	4	232	364	−132	4

Source: FIBA
(H) Hosts

Beau Vallon Heat v Nairobi City Thunder

16 October 2024 1	Beau Vallon Heat	53–89	Nairobi City Thunder	Kibaha, Tanzania
16:00	Scoring by quarter: Not reported
	Pts: Bouchereau 19 Rebs: Mutyambizi 6 Asts: Mutyambizi 8	Boxscore	Pts: Davis 28 Rebs: Davis, Okoth 11 Asts: Iroegbu 7	Arena: The Filbert Bayi Olympafrica Centre Attendance: 200 Referees: Guy Sani (CMR), Silver Jacques Houngbedji (BEN), Didier Shema Nshuti (RWA)

Nairobi City Thunder v Urunani

18 October 2024 2	Nairobi City Thunder	88–89	Urunani	Kibaha, Tanzania
	Pts: T. Ongwae 23 Rebs: G. Diing 10 Asts: U. Iroegbu 7		Pts: J. Boissy 28 Rebs: P. Olisemeka 11 Asts: J. Boissy 9	Arena: The Filbert Bayi Olympafrica Centre

GNBC v Nairobi City Thunder

19 October 2024 3	GNBC	60–96	Nairobi City Thunder	Kibaha, Tanzania
16:00
		Boxscore		Arena: The Filbert Bayi Olympafrica Centre Attendance: 200

Nairobi City Thunder v JKT

20 October 2024 4	Nairobi City Thunder	86–63	JKT	Kibaha, Tanzania
19:00	Scoring by quarter: 18–20, 23–9, 20–23, 25–11
	Pts: Ogechi 23 Rebs: Diing 9 Asts: Ongwae 8	Boxscore	Pts: Mushi 18 Rebs: Felesian 10 Asts: Ndula 10	Arena: The Filbert Bayi Olympafrica Centre Attendance: 160 Referees: SANI, Guy (CMR) HOUNGBEDJI, Silver Jacques (BEN) MOCKEY, Gnoambilé Guillaume (CIV)

Elite 16

The draw for the Elite 16 was held on November 24, 2024.^[8]

Group stage

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Nairobi City Thunder (H)	3	3	0	297	198	+99	6	Advance to final round
2	Kriol Star	3	2	1	223	220	+3	5
3	MBB	3	1	2	207	226	−19	4
4	Bravehearts	3	0	3	187	270	−83	3

Source: FIBA
(H) Hosts

MBB v Nairobi City Thunder

28 November 2024 1	MBB	59–102	Nairobi City Thunder	Kasarani Indoor Arena, Nairobi
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 19–17, 18–31, 17–22, 5–32
	Pts: Mothiba 14 Rebs: Mokwena 12 Asts: Pfachi 6	Boxscore	Pts: Harouna 18 Rebs: Koranga 8 Asts: Iroegbu 7	Attendance: 2,000 Referees: Michel Djeugoue (CMR), Amr Zahed (EGY), Shabani Shabani (TAN)

Nairobi City Thunder v Kriol Star

29 November 2024 2	Nairobi City Thunder	104–71	Kriol Star	Kasarani Indoor Arena, Nairobi
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 24–16, 27–15, 21–17, 32–23
	Pts: Odero 15 Rebs: Okoth 11 Asts: Adera 4	Boxscore	Pts: McGlynn 17 Rebs: Enoh 11 Asts: Almeida, Richardson 3	Attendance: 1,500 Referees: Tonton Banza Kalume (COD), Mahamadou Diallo (MLI), Amr Zahed (EGY)

Bravehearts v Nairobi City Thunder

30 November 2024 3	Bravehearts	68–91	Nairobi City Thunder	Kasarani Indoor Arena, Nairobi
20:00	Scoring by quarter: 13–20, 20–21, 14–27, 21–23
	Pts: Williams 25 Rebs: Banda 15 Asts: Banda 2	Boxscore	Pts: Ogechi 18 Rebs: Diing 10 Asts: Iroegbu 4	Attendance: 500 Referees: Shabani Shabani (TAN), Francisco Tando (ANG), Didier Shema (RWA)

Final round

Nairobi City Thunder v City Oilers

2 December 2024 Semifinals	Nairobi City Thunder	80–59	City Oilers	Nairobi, Kenya
20:30 (GMT+3)	Scoring by quarter: 18–11, 16–15, 20–19, 18–17
	Pts: Majok 17 Rebs: Majok 10 Asts: Iroegbu 7	Boxscore	Pts: Petty 23 Rebs: Otobo 11 Asts: Jones 3	Arena: Kasarani Indoor Arena Attendance: 1,000

Nairobi City Thunder v Kriol Star

3 December 2024 Final	Nairobi City Thunder	99–86	Kriol Star	Nairobi, Kenya
20:30 (GMT+3)	Scoring by quarter: 27–22, 30–19, 23–16, 19–29
	Pts: Diing 20 Rebs: Diing 7 Asts: Adera 14	Boxscore	Pts: Richardson 26 Rebs: Mendes 15 Asts: Lahrichi 11	Arena: Kasarani Indoor Arena Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Tonton Banza Kalume (COD), Mahamadou Diallo (MLI), Michel Djeugoue (CMR)

BAL

See also: 2025 BAL season

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	PCT	Qualification
1	Al Ahli Tripoli	6	6	0	604	498	+106	1.000	Advance to playoffs
2	APR (H)	6	3	3	530	508	+22	.500
3	MBB	6	2	4	476	539	−63	.333
4	Nairobi City Thunder	6	1	5	474	539	−65	.167

Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Nile Conference

See also: 2025 BAL season group phase § Nile Conference

APR v Nairobi City Thunder

17 May 2025	APR	92–63	Nairobi City Thunder	Kigali, Rwanda
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 22–23, 17–8, 20–21, 33–11
	Pts: Diarra 23 Rebs: Diarra 12 Asts: Habimana 9	Boxscore	Pts: Ongwae 14 Rebs: Ongwae 9 Asts: Iroegbu 4	Arena: BK Arena Attendance: 5,968 Referees: Cameron Garber, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Silver Houngbedji

Nairobi City Thunder v Al Ahli Tripoli

18 May 2025	Nairobi City Thunder	87–115	Al Ahli Tripoli	Kigali, Rwanda
14:30	Scoring by quarter: 18–24, 20–29, 15–28, 34–34
	Pts: Iroegbu 18 Rebs: Diong 8 Asts: Iroegbu 8	Boxscore	Pts: Boissy 30 Rebs: Thompson 14 Asts: Adams 7	Arena: BK Arena Attendance: 3,225 Referees: Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Amir Taboubi, Claudio Eiuba

Nairobi City Thunder v MBB

20 May 2025	Nairobi City Thunder	74–75	MBB	Kigali, Rwanda
16:00	Scoring by quarter: 15–22, 18–10, 27–18, 14–25
	Pts: Ganapamo 21 Rebs: Adera 7 Asts: Adera 5	Boxscore	Pts: Prinsloo 30 Rebs: Prinsloo 11 Asts: Lenard, Mooring 5	Arena: BK Arena Attendance: 3,279 Referees: Cameron Garber, Jean Sauveur Ruhamiriza, Mahamadou Diallo

Al Ahli Tripoli v Nairobi City Thunder

22 May 2025	Al Ahli Tripoli	104–91	Nairobi City Thunder	Kigali, Rwanda
16:00	Scoring by quarter: 32–24, 24–17, 27–18, 21–32
	Pts: Boissy 26 Rebs: Sadi 13 Asts: Agada 7	Boxscore	Pts: Iroegbu 23 Rebs: Adera 12 Asts: Diing 9	Arena: BK Arena Attendance: 2,674 Referees: Maripier Malo, Wael Ibrahim Mostafa, Silver Houngbedji

MBB v Nairobi City Thunder

24 May 2025	MBB	76–85	Nairobi City Thunder	Kigali, Rwanda
14:30	Scoring by quarter: 24–20, 15–21, 15–14, 22–30
	Pts: Lenard 39 Rebs: Lenard, Sibanyoni 9 Asts: Sibanyoni 2	Boxscore	Pts: Odero 23 Rebs: Adera 14 Asts: Iroegbu 7	Arena: BK Arena Attendance: 3,251 Referees: Gina Catanzariti, Amir Taboubi, Hassane Kamate

Nairobi City Thunder v APR

25 May 2025	Nairobi City Thunder	74–77	APR	Kigali, Rwanda
17:30	Scoring by quarter: 19–17, 26–18, 16–20, 13–22
	Pts: Odero 29 Rebs: Davis 10 Asts: Iroegbu 5	Boxscore	Pts: Diarra 22 Rebs: Diarra 17 Asts: Randle 5	Arena: BK Arena Attendance: 6,606 Referees: Kenneth Gardner, Asmae Benkhadra, Mahamadou Diallo