The landscape of African basketball has officially shifted. In front of an electrifying, packed crowd at BK Arena in Kigali, the RSSB Tigers made history by becoming the first Rwandan club to ever win the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Championship. In a thrilling finale, they narrowly defeated Angola's defending champions, Petro de Luanda, 90-88.
The historic 2026 final will go down as one of the greatest games in the competition’s history. The Tigers faced an absolute nightmare scenario right after tip-off, as the Angolan powerhouse stormed out to a stunning 20-0 lead. A 20-point deficit in the first quarter against a team with Petro’s championship DNA usually spells the end.
However, the Tigers refused to panic. Their fightback was engineered by the undisputed star of the tournament: Craig Randall II. Earning the Hakeem Olajuwon MVP Trophy, Randall also cemented his legacy as the 2026 BAL Top Scorer, finishing the season with an incredible average of 36 points per game. After a slow start in the final, Randall caught fire, delivering a game-high 33 points while playing all 40 minutes. His season was nothing short of legendary, having already set a BAL record with a 54-point performance earlier in the tournament.
With crucial stops anchored by Defensive Player of the Year Mangok Mathiang, the Tigers systematically dismantled Petro's lead and locked in defensively. This monumental victory not only crowns the RSSB Tigers as the Kings of Africa but also secures their ticket to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. For Kigali and the entire nation, it is an unforgettable triumph.