Monrovia—Mighty Barrolle, the Liberian basketball champions, faced their first defeat in the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) on October 10 in Tripoli, Libya.
By: Christopher C Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075
Barrolle struggled in the opening quarters but rallied in the second half, ultimately falling to the Ivorian champions, ABC Fighters, with a final score of 88-69.
Despite a strong performance in the third and fourth quarters, Barrolle’s slow start proved costly.
The Ivorian team secured their first win in the preliminary qualifiers, needing one more victory to secure automatic qualification for the elite 16 tournament scheduled to take place in their home country in November.
To keep their qualification hopes alive, Barrolle must secure back-to-back wins against Elan Cotton and Ghana’s Sprintex Knights on Friday and Saturday.
Coach Assad Fadel’s squad faces an uphill battle after suffering a significant defeat in an international friendly match against Libyan champions Alahli SC earlier in the week, losing 98-53.
This BAL campaign marks a historic moment for Barrolle, as they are the first Liberian club to compete at this level. The team, which has dominated the local scene over the past four seasons, aims to make a significant impact on the international stage.
Barrolle arrived in Tripoli on October 5 to prepare for the qualifiers. In Group B, they are set to compete against ABC Fighters, Sprintex Knights, and Elan Cotton.
The return of star player Brian Nyengbe, who arrived from China on October 8, is seen as a crucial boost for the team, given his pivotal role in their 2023 championship victory.