ASC Ville de Dakar edge out Al Ahly 93-90 in a nail-biting finish

There was a different energy and it was clear that there would be a battle of the bigs between Omar Oraby and Ater Majok. Oraby fouled Majok early in the game and he split the pair to open up the scoring. Immediately after that, Oraby threw down a dunk from a Kevin Murphy assist. Zach Lofton returned like he never left as he drained a three from an Omot assist to extend the lead to 5-1. Dakar's Axel Toupane scored a driving layup then Samba Fall followed in the same fashion to bring the game level at five points apiece. Zach Lofton sent the game into a frenzy as he shot another three-pointer.

Former BAL champion and MVP, Nuni Omot joined the party as scored a beautiful pull up jump shot to extend Al Ahly's lead. Mouhamed Camara then brought the roof down with his emphatic dunk after stealing the ball off a Nuni Omot turnover. Axel Toupane's driving lay up took Dakar up only by one point with over six and a half minutes to go in the first quarter. Al Ahly began to pull away when they went on an 8-0 run where Ehab Saleh scored a floater before Omar Oraby and he went for back-to-back three pointers to go up 18-11.

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Omar Oraby was a handful for Dakar as he was scoring any way he wanted to - from lay ups to dunks to free throws to three pointers and hook shots. He had eight points to match Axel Toupane's eight points in the first quarter. Dakar upped the ante defensively but that proved costly as they got into foul trouble and Al Ahly capitalised on that to take a narrow 29-25 lead at the end of the first quarter.

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The second quarter started off slower and bit more methodical for both teams as if they were sizing each other up again before locking horns. For the first four minutes, each team only scored a pair of free throws with no field goals. There were stints of negligent basketball as turnovers piled up and so did missed shots. It looked completely different to the first quarter, but with teams as good as these two, it was only going to be temporary. Samba Fall broke the deadlock with a deep three-pointer for Dakar. From there, the lid was removed and both teams got in their groove again.

John Jordan scored on the drive for Al Ahly, while Majok powered through the paint to add two for Dakar before Mamadou Diop tied the game with another lay up. He got fouled on that attempt and completed the three-point play to take Dakar up by one point. There was very little to separate these two teams. Nuni Omot, known for his spectacular shot-making abilities, stepped back, created space between him and his defender and hit the step back jump shot for another lead change. However, Samba Fall was scorching hot as he lined up a perfect three-pointer for another lead change.

Nuni Omot continued on his solo run when he drew a foul on the lay up and converted the free throw. He went on a solo 7-0 run to keep Al Ahly within one point. Axel Toupane tipped in a lay up and Samba Fall followed that up with a dunk to give Dakar a two-point lead. Omar Oraby returned to the party with a three-pointer. The Ivorian legend, Solo Diabate scored a three-pointer to keep Dakar within one possession, but Nuni Omot would not be denied as he made another shot. It was Dakar who closed out this quarter with utmost composure and went up 47-45 at the half.

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Axel Toupane came out in full force to start the second quarter as he scored a lay up then a fast break dunk. Samba Fall then scored two lay ups and Ater Majok added a lay up to complete a 10-0 run for Dakar that saw them go up 12 points early in the third quarter. Nuni Omot disrupted this run when he made two free throws. There was a dry spell as both teams tightened up their defense. Kevin Murphy then scored a mid-range jump shot to cut the lead to eight. Despite this effort, Axel Toupane could not be stopped as he drained a three-pointer to take the lead back up to 11 for Dakar.

Both teams began trading baskets with spectacular jump shots and dunks from both teams. Al Ahly went on a 17-5 run to close out the quarter. During this run, Moursi Khalaf scored a three-pointer, Kevin Murphy and Nuni Omot showed their offensive and defensive prowess. Dakar found themselves a step behind as they could not stop fouling and that allowed Al Ahly to cut the lead and bring it to within four points. It was Nuni Omot who stole the show with a steal and a run-away dunk to beat the buzzer. Dakar saw their lead slip as they lead 69-67 at the end of the third quarter.

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Nuni Omot opened the scoring with a lay up to tie the game on the first possession of the quarter. The game took an interesting turn when neither team could stop the other and both took trips to the free throw line. It was then Solo Diabate's lay up that gave Dakar a slight lead. The Ivorian legend then extended Dakar's lead when he scored a beautiful reverse lay up as if to wind back the clock of time, displaying a moment that is reminiscent of his younger years. Samba Fall then scored a jump shot for Dakar to extend the lead to four points.

However, sharp shooter and captain, Ehab Saleh drained a three-pointer for Al Ahly to reignite their fire. Matthieu Missonnier then pulled up and scored a three to take the lead back up to five for Dakar. Ehab Saleh kept attacking and drew a foul after which he converted both free throws. Axel Toupane put his versatility on full display with yet another athletic lay up. The game only started heating up now, the fans were on the edge of their seats and every shot mattered more than the previous.

Kevin Murphy went to the line where he score both his free throws. But then Mamadou Diop and Nuni Omot exchanged three pointers, showing their marksmanship. Ater Majok returned to the score sheet after a quiet stint as he converted both his free throws. However, he undid his work shortly after when he fouled Kevin Murphy who also converted both his free throws. Kevin Murphy then tied the game at 87 points with a deep three courtesy of a Zach Lofton assist.

With two minutes left in the game and no room for mistake, Axel Toupane drew another foul and went to the line where he was perfect and restored a two-point lead for Dakar. Desperate to get a stop, Al Ahly fouled Ater Majok who made no mistake on the line and converted both. These free throws gave Dakar a 91-87 lead with a little under a minute and a half to go. Solo Diabate then drew a foul but split the pair, leaving a window of opportunity for Al Ahly to pull of a late heroic action.

However, Ehab Saleh also split the pair keeping the score at 92-88 with 49 seconds to go. Samba Fall took a three-pointer and missed it but Mamadou Diop snatched the offensive rebound to give Dakar another offensive possession with 28 seconds left. Solo Diabate then drew another foul and split the pair at the free throw line with the score at 93-88 and 19 seconds left on the clock. With four seconds left on the clock, Kevin Murphy drew a foul on a three-point attempt but could only convert two of the three free throws. Dakar overcame all odds and claimed a 93-90 win.

Game two is set for Sunday. With the deficit only at three points, Dakar will have to put out all the stops to stop the Egyptian powerhouse in game two if they are to advance to the semifinals. Despite the loss, the point difference will inspire Al Ahly for the clash on Sunday. Axel Toupane stuffed the stats sheet with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals to lead the Senegalese champions to a game 1 victory.

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[Photography/Imagery Courtesy of Matthieu Metivet]