Harouna, Perry power hosts FUS Rabat to 2-0 in BAL Sahara Confrence

Abdoulaye Harouna and Will Perry left nothing to chance as they led Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2026 Sahara Conference hosts FUS Rabat to back-to-back victories, beating Nigeria's Maktown Flyers 97-72.

With the win, FUS Rabat became one of only two undefeated teams so far, Club Africain also carrying a 2-0 advantage as Conference action heads to a rest day on Monday.

Both players had a slow start to the match, despite staying on the floor for the entire opening quarter, scoring just three as the North African side led 23-19. They came from behind, Perry's only contribution of the period from beyond the arc handing his side their first lead at 19-17. 

Perry, who finished with a game-high 34 in efficiency rating after just over 36 minutes on the floor, got the second quarter going from range as FUS Rabat sought and early breakaway. However, the Abdulrahman Mohammed-coached Nigerian champions continued to fight, Tyrell Jabar Corbin's three-point pull up jump shot bringing them to within a point at 26-25 in the opening two minutes. 

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Said El Bouzidi's side responded to the pressure, Harouna pulling them away from deep, off a Perry assist, as the hosts build a nine-point cushion (38-29) with four minutes on the clock, before making it double digits (40-29) seconds later. The Moroccans maintained their rhythm to carry a 46-35 advantage to the halftime break. 

"We can feel the energy of our fans ad it’s an amazing feeling. It’s not just FUS Rabat fans who have come to support u; we have fans from all over Morocco, and that gives us huge encouragement to keep fighting and moving forward,” FUS Rabat guard Soufiane Benmhine told BAL after the win. "The difference between last season and this one is that we don't have the same pressure as last year.  This year, we have experience, which is making things easier for us.”

FUS Rabat came from the locker rooms guns blazing, Ayoub Nouhi leading the charge as the side went on a seven-point run to lead by 18 just two minutes into the half. 
There was no flying for Maktown from there on, despite efforts from Hassan Drame and Ogbodeje Abah. Harouna's steal with 3:42 to play for a trey pulled the hosts 21 points clear. Abdulrahman's men were not ready to go down without a fight as they pulled back to trail by 15 (71-56) heading to the final stanza. 

Bouzidi's charges, however, would hear none of it, dropping a 26-16 final quarter domination to take a 25-point victory that had Harouna lead the scoring with 26, two more than Perry who came two rebounds and as many assists shy of a triple-double, while adding four steals to his spectacular show. The duo dropped 11 of their side's 13 attempts from range, killing any comeback hopes for the Nigerian champions.

The hosts took advantage of Maktown Flyers' ball handling woes, punishing their 23 turnovers for 28 points, ten more than what the Nigerians managed off FUS Rabat's 16. The eventual winner also dominated the paint 42-32, and despite their bench being outplayed 23-8, their starting lineup that included Nouhi who dropped 17 points and Kuany Atem Kuany with 15, did enough to ensure the victory. 

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With the win, the hosts will enjoy the day's rest at the top of the Conference on two victories, same as Tunisia's Club Africain, but with a superior point difference (55 against 7) to lead the group of six. FUS Rabat had defeated Cote d'Ivoire's JCA 85-55. 

Meanwhile, the Nigerian side drops to 1-1 for fourth place after beating the Ivorian 76-68 in their opener as well. 

"They (FUS Rabat)were a little more patient. They have really good chemistry. They moved the ball around more, which created open shots for them. When we were down, we tried to play one-on-one. I think that was the difference between the two teams," said Maktown Flyers guard Tyrell Corbin who finished with a joint team-high 13 points. “I am feeling very positive. We have three more games left. We need to put this loss behind us and try to win the next three games.”

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(Photography Courtesy of BAL)