Nino Dim’s heroic late block and 21-point performance powered the Johannesburg Giants to a thrilling win over Dar City, securing a historic BAL 2026 qualification after a tense, back-and-forth battle defined by momentum swings, clutch plays and unforgettable drama in Nairobi.
Last Updated on
November 23, 2025
Nino Dim Phenomenal as Johannesburg Giants Seize BAL 2026 Ticket in Heart-Stopping Thriller
It all came down to one second, one final throw-in that held the hopes of an entire city. Dar City fans held their breath, clinging to a whisper of hope. On the other side, the Johannesburg Giants stood tense, guarding a fragile two-point lead inside a roaring Kasarani Complex in Nairobi, Kenya.
Solo Diabaté launched the inbound pass, a perfect arc falling into the hands of the towering Youssoupha Ndoye. The big man gathered himself for a thunderous dunk that would send the game into overtime, maybe even steal the win. But destiny had other plans.
Ndoye rose. The Giants rose higher.
Three Johannesburg defenders swarmed him mid-air, and at the heart of the collision was Nino Dim, delivering a monumental block that sealed the Giants’ victory and punched their historic ticket to the 2026 Basketball Africa League.
That single moment was the exclamation point on Dim’s brilliant night, a performance defined by hustle, dominance, and unshakeable composure on both ends of the floor.
As the Giants celebrated their maiden BAL qualification, Dar City could only stare at the scoreboard in disbelief. They had come agonisingly close to etching their name in history as Tanzania’s first-ever BAL representative, but saw the dream slip through their fingers in the final heartbeat.
Dar City had opened the night in commanding fashion. Their undefeated 3–0 run showed in the first quarter, as Solo Diabaté (5 points), Nisré Zouzoua (4), and former NBA center Hasheem Thabeet (4) combined smoothly to build a controlled 21–13 lead.
But the Giants were far from done.
The second quarter belonged to Abwok Deing. The 24-year-old shooting guard exploded for 10 points, energising the Johannesburg bench and cutting Dar City’s lead to just five heading into halftime. Momentum was shifting, and everyone in the arena felt it.
The third quarter turned into a showcase of willpower. Nino Dim once again put Dar City on his shoulders, pouring in 8 points and asserting his presence. But Giants sharpshooter Nisré Zouzoua answered every blow, matching Dim with 8 of his own.
What truly tilted the quarter was the Giants’ superior bench depth, outscoring Dar City 22–2—a massive swing that sent Johannesburg into the final quarter with a narrow 54–53 lead. The fourth quarter was pure adrenaline. Both teams traded buckets and defensive stops, neither willing to blink first. Then came the moment. With just five seconds left, Zouzoua, near flawless all night, committed a pressure-filled foul. Up stepped Nkosinathi Sandile, calm as ice.
Two free throws. Two makes. Giants up 71–69. Dar City had one last chance, but Ndoye’s attempted dunk collided with Nino Dim’s heroic block. The buzzer sounded, and Johannesburg erupted in absolute delirium. A ticket to BAL 2026 was theirs.
Dar City will look back on the stat sheet with pain. They were outrebounded 51–43, beaten in fast breaks 19–15, and outscored in the paint 28–24. Their star, Nisré Zouzoua, delivered a stunning 25 points and five rebounds, but walked off visibly crushed. On the other side, Nino Dim, the hero of the night, finished with 21 points, flexing his muscles to the crowd as the Giants celebrated a victory that will echo through Johannesburg basketball history.
With this win, the Johannesburg Giants become just the third South African team to qualify for the Basketball Africa League, joining the Cape Town Tigers and MBB. Their journey to BAL 2026 is officially alive, and after this performance, the continent has been put on notice.
[Photography Courtesy of FIBA/Road to BAL]
