Ogoh Odaudu Admits Tough Basketball Africa League Draw

Ogoh Odaudu Admits Tough Basketball Africa League Draw

Precious Oham

Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu says his team has been placed in a tough conference in this season's Basketball Africa League, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Hoopers have been drawn with host FUS Rabat, debutants Al Ittihad, and 2023 third-place team Stade Malien in the Kalahari Conference.

Speaking to the Rivers Hoopers media after the BAL announcement, Odaudu said, "It is a difficult conference. But just like last year, we are focused on getting out of the group stage. We won’t do anything different from what we did last season."

"If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. We are technically going to approach the same target by doing the same stuff we did last year. Keep it simple and do the little things we need to do."

Odaudu expressed disappointment at not being able to re-sign Will Perry, who played a pivotal role in the team's third-place finish last season.

 "Unfortunately, we lost Will to another team, but we have tried to replace him, and we will get a point guard that will be able to do the things he (Will) did for us last year.''

The former Nigeria international is optimistic the team will assemble a better squad ahead of the 2025 Basketball Africa League season.

''We have some upgrades in some positions, and Rivers Hoopers will be a better team than it was last year, Odaudu concluded. The KingsMen have been scheduled to play the season opener against Stade Malien on 5 April in Rabat, Morocco.