Nairobi City Thunder, the reigning national basketball champions, are intensifying their preparations for their second appearance at the Basketball Africa League (BAL), aiming to secure a play-off spot in the 2026 season.

• The Thunder are among 12 teams vying for eight tickets to the 2026 BAL season finale in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Team Manager Bernet Ojay stated their main objective is to qualify for the play-offs, building on lessons learned from their debut in the 2025 season.
• The sixth BAL season will feature a new format with two conferences of six teams each, departing from the previous three conferences of four teams.
• The Thunder will face six opponents from a pool of 11 teams, including new entrants like Dar City from Tanzania.