Backed by a vibrant home crowd at the BK Arena, the Tigers, who are participating in the BAL for the first time, leaned on their stellar 95-72 victory from the first leg to protect their aggregate advantage and keep their continental championship dreams very much alive.
Rabat mounts an early charge
Entering Sunday’s highly anticipated return fixture with a 23-point cushion, the Tigers knew the Moroccan powerhouse would throw everything at them. FUS Rabat received a major boost with the return of star playmaker William Perry, who sat out the first leg. Perry catalysed an aggressive start for the visitors, hitting crucial perimeter shots on his way to 29 points and 11 assists, helping Rabat command a 32-14 lead by the end of the opening quarter.
Showing the heart of champions, the Tigers adjusted quickly in the second period. Spearheaded by the offensive brilliance of Craig Randall, the hosts responded with a 30-19 run to steady the ship and trim Rabat’s halftime lead to a manageable 51-44.
Weathering the storm
The third quarter tested the Tigers’ resolve. FUS Rabat unleashed an explosive run, finding spaces in the paint and building an imposing 79-58 lead at one stage. With their aggregate advantage temporarily narrowed, the local crowd rallied behind the team, and the Tigers never panicked, maintaining focus heading into the final frame.
Randall’s heroics spark fourth-quarter rally
What followed in the fourth quarter was a display of pure elite execution. The Tigers clamped down defensively, slowing the tempo and reclaiming control of the glass. Antino Jackson Jr. organised the offence beautifully, while big man Mangok Mathiang fortified the paint with crucial rebounds, allowing Rwanda to completely turn the tide.
The final quarter belonged to Craig Randall, who put on a spectacular masterclass to finish with a staggering 43 points. Randall capped off his legendary night by sinking his ninth three-pointer of the game from the corner, briefly giving the Tigers a 98-97 lead in the dying moments.
While FUS Rabat’s Mouhamadou Diagne knocked down two late free throws to hand the Moroccans the 99-98 match victory, the Tigers won the ultimate battle. By outscoring Rabat 28-15 in the final frame, the Rwandan giants triumphantly defended their aggregate lead to seal a historic semi-final berth.
Earlier in the evening at the BK Arena, defending giants Al Ahly of Egypt produced a disciplined performance to defeat Senegal’s ASC Ville de Dakar 87-76, successfully overturning a narrow first-leg deficit.
The stage is now set for an epic continental showdown. The RSSB Tigers will rely on their electric home support when they face Al Ahly in the semi-finals on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with a spot in the BAL Finals on the line.
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