Less than 24 hours after toppling the Johannesburg Giants, Dar City displayed remarkable grit and determination yesterday, March 28, 2026 as they narrowly edged the Nairobi City Thunder 90–85 in a pulsating Kalahari Conference showdown.
The Tanzanian champions overcame a spirited challenge from the Kenyan side in a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer, showcasing their resilience, tactical nous and hunger for victory early in the 2026 BAL season.
This win marks Dar City’s second consecutive victory, boosting their hopes of securing one of the four playoff berths in the conference.
Despite trailing by as many as 13 points in the second quarter, Dar City refused to buckle under pressure, gradually clawing their way back to take control in the closing stages.
The decisive moment came in the dying seconds when David Michineau calmly drained a crucial three-pointer, sealing the win and sending waves of celebration through the Tanzanian camp.
The Thunder, who entered the court looking to extend their unbeaten run from last November’s Road to BAL qualifiers, were undone by late turnovers and missed opportunities.
Thunder centre Lance Thomas appeared to snatch victory with a last-second block on Michael Foster, only for Foster to respond instantly with the game-changing basket that sparked a 5–0 run for Dar City, extinguishing Nairobi City’s hopes of a comeback.
Michineau led the charge with a sensational 39 points, complemented by eight rebounds and seven assists.
Nisre Zouzoua added 20 points, Daniel Utomi contributed 15, while Foster chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Dar City had a slow start, allowing the Thunder to hit 61 percent of their 31 first-half shots, powered by Eugene Adera, Ariel Koranga, and Derrick Ogechi’s combined 30 points.
Their shooting cooled in the second half, finishing at 47 percent, as Dar City’s relentless resilience shifted the momentum in their favour.
Trailing 50–46 at half-time, Dar City stormed the third quarter with a 7–0 run, demonstrating their determination to maintain their unbeaten start.
Notably, Nairobi City Thunder forward Albert Odero was sidelined due to a hamstring injury, a blow to the Kenyan side’s ambitions.
Tylor Ongwae, who led the Thunder with 18 points, reflected on the loss:
“It’s a tough one, just like last year. We’ve got four games left, so we need to regroup and focus. Their energy made the difference we were ahead by 12 or 13, but they came back. Credit to them. We’ll learn and build from this.”
Meanwhile, Foster praised Dar City’s performance:
“It was a huge shot at the end, and credit to Dar City. They wanted it as much as we did, but we wanted it even more because we’re aiming to make history. This team’s mentality starts with hard work every day. We’re aiming for 5–0, to win here and progress.”
“We’ve shown we have what it takes to win it all. This was a real battle against NCT, but we came out on top.”
Dar City return to action on Tuesday, March 31, against Al Ahly Ly, while the Thunder face the Johannesburg Giants on Sunday, 29 March.
