Nairobi City Thunder's ace signs with Rwandan giants

Nairobi City Thunder's Albert Odero will suit up for Rwandan side Tigers for the next season, having signed a year-long deal with the 2025 Rwanda Basketball Cup winners.

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Odero will feature for the Henry Mwinuka-coached side for the 2026 season, set to throw off on Saturday, 24 January. The side has also acquired the services of Rwandan International Kenneth Gasana, who will serve as the assistant coach for the period.

The Kenyan international carries with him a wealth of basketball experience, from not only his time with Thunder, both in the national league and Basketball Africa League (BAL), but also from playing overseas before signing with the two-time Kenyan champions in 2023.

"WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, @kenyan_airways! Tigers BBC just got stronger Odéro brings energy, toughness, and a winning mindset and we're ready to unleash it (sic)," the club's statement on his signing briefly reads.

The diminutive forward had twice helped Thunder qualify for Africa's premier men's club competition, BAL, first in the 2024 Road to BAL campaign and again in the 2025 journey that, just like last year, saw the Kenyan side dominate at home to win the Elite 16 East Division.

After winning Thunder's first Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's title in the 2023/24 season, he had a short stint with Burundi's Urunani, helping the side qualify for the Road to BAL.

With both sides playing in the East Division Group (B) Phase in Kibaha, Tanzania, he chose the Kenyan side, making his BAL debut in 2025.

In the Road to BAL 2026, Thunder had a bye to the Elite 16, where Odero dazzled with a 20.8 points average in four matches. He saved the best of his performances for the semi-final against Mozambique Ferroviario da Beira, dropping 32 points and six rebounds in just under 24 minutes.

It remains to be seen whether he will join the Kenyan champions in the BAL 2026.