PICTORIAL: History, glory and celebration as RSSB Tigers clinch BAL 2026 championship

In front of a packed BK Arena, debutants RSSB Tigers made history by winning the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) title, defeating Angola’s Petro de Luanda 90-88 in dramatic final on Sunday. President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame were among the thousands of fans who witnessed the historic occasion on May 31. The victory crowned the Tigers as champions of Africa and made them the first Rwandan club to win the BAL since the competition was launched in 2021. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, RSSB Tigers produced a remarkable comeback after a difficult opening quarter, denying Petro de Luanda a second BAL title and delivering one of the greatest moments in Rwandan basketball history. American guard Craig Randall II once again led from the front, producing a game-high 33 points in the final to cap an outstanding tournament. His performances throughout the campaign earned him the BAL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The triumph marked the culmination of a dream debut season for the Tigers, who entered the competition as newcomers and ended it as continental champions. The New Times photographer Olivier Mugwiza captured the defining moments of the unforgettable night—from the intensity of the contest and the emotions on the court to the celebrations that followed Rwanda’s biggest achievement in club basketball.

In Pictures

PICTORIAL: History, glory and celebration as RSSB Tigers clinch BAL 2026 championship