TRIPOLI, Libya– Liberia’s Champions, NPA Pythons looked destined to close their Road to BAL 2027 campaign with a statement victory. They had seized control early, won the opening quarter 20-12, and carried a hard-fought 39-36 lead into the break against Nayaba Sofa.
By Jaheim T. Tumu- [email protected]
Then everything changed.
Nayaba Sofa emerged from halftime with renewed energy and turned the game on its head, dominating the second half to claim a 78-68 victory and bring the Pythons’ continental journey to a painful end.
The Liberian champions had shown the determination that carried them to the national title, frustrating their opponents with aggressive play and building an eight-point first-quarter cushion.
Even as Nayaba Sofa fought back before halftime, the Pythons refused to surrender their advantage and entered the locker room believing an upset was within reach.
But basketball can be ruthless.
The momentum swung sharply after the restart as Nayaba Sofa tightened their defense and punished costly mistakes. Turnovers began to mount for the Pythons, and the lead that once inspired hope slowly disappeared.
By the end of the third quarter, Nayaba Sofa had completed their comeback and moved ahead 58-50, leaving the Liberian side facing an uphill battle in the final 10 minutes.
The Pythons continued to fight, but the surge never came.
Instead, Nayaba Sofa maintained control down the stretch, silencing the challenge and sealing a 78-68 victory that ended NPA’s hopes of advancing in the Road to BAL qualifiers.
Despite the disappointment, head coach Raphael Quayee refused to dwell on the defeat, describing the tournament as a valuable measuring stick for both his team and Liberian basketball.
“This is a good experience for us as a team,” Quayee said. “As champions of our league, we have engaged other people to see and know the actual gaps that we have.”
The coach pointed to turnovers and defensive shortcomings as major factors behind the team’s struggles throughout the competition.
“The major issue is control of the basketball in terms of turnovers,” he said. “We need to factor in those reasons for which we are turning the basketball over and not playing the kind of defense that is required.”
Quayee insisted there were positives to take from the experience. “It’s good to know where you are, and then you can use that positively to push yourself to another level.”
In a statement released after the game, NPA Pythons acknowledged the disappointment of their early exit but stressed that the experience would help shape the team’s future.
“Our journey in the Road to BAL 2027 has come to an end after three challenging games,” the club said.
“While the results were not what we hoped for, this experience has provided valuable lessons, tested our resilience and highlighted areas where we must continue to grow.”
The club thanked its players, coaching staff, management and supporters, while pledging to return stronger in future continental competitions.
“This chapter does not define our ambition. We move forward with humility, renewed determination and a stronger commitment to the journey ahead.”
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