Nairobi City Thunder skipper Tylor Ongwae during a previous match/ HANDOUT

Nairobi City Thunder head coach Bradley Ibs has identified defensive discipline, team chemistry and a strong identity as key priorities as the Kenyan champions prepare for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Elite 16 tournament.

Nairobi was selected by FIBA Africa to host the East Division tournament from November 23–29, earning Thunder a direct bye into the competition. Only the top two teams will qualify for the 2027 BAL main tournament.

Thunder head into the continental assignment in dominant form after completing an unbeaten domestic season, sweeping Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 3-0 in the Kenya National Basketball League (KNBL) playoff finals to extend their winning streak to 90 games across three seasons.

Despite the short turnaround, Ibs says preparations are progressing well, with the team's foreign players having joined the squad.

“We had a very short break since we finished the KNBL season. Our foreign players have arrived and everybody seems to be getting along,” he said.

The coach believes building a solid defensive foundation and strengthening relationships within the squad will be crucial to their qualification ambitions.

The upcoming tournament will mark Thunder's third consecutive Elite 16 appearance since 2024, following back-to-back qualifications for the BAL main tournament.

In their maiden continental campaign in 2025, Thunder went unbeaten through the Elite 16, defeating Uganda's City Oilers 72-62 in the semi-finals before beating Cape Verde's Kriol Star 99-86 in the final to lift the trophy.

Their first BAL main tournament appearance proved challenging, however, as they managed just one win in six games in the Nile Conference.

Thunder bounced back in 2026, again completing an unbeaten East Division Elite 16 campaign. They defeated Mozambique's Ferroviário da Beira 109-70 in the semi-finals before overcoming South Africa's Johannesburg Giants 94-84 in the final.

In the 2026 BAL main tournament, they recorded two wins and three defeats in the Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, beating Rwanda's RSSB Tigers 101-92 and Johannesburg Giants 71-65.

With another opportunity to secure a place among Africa's elite, Ibs has called on Kenyan basketball fans to turn out in large numbers and recreate the atmosphere that has made Nairobi a formidable home venue.

“With the Elite 16 in Nairobi, we have seen the energy our fans bring. It's a huge benefit for the fans to be there with the same passion,” he said.