Founder of Marktown Flyers, Akeranna Manasseh Achii, has expressed pride in his team’s debut performance at the Basketball Africa League, despite their early exit from the Sahara Conference.
The Nigerian champions bowed out of the competition following a 79–62 defeat to ASC Ville de Dakar, marking their third loss in the tournament.
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“It’s been a learning curve,” Achii said.
According to him, competing against some of Africa’s top basketball teams was always going to be a tough challenge, especially for a side making its first appearance at this level.
“We expected it to be difficult,” he implied.
Achii highlighted the value of the experience gained, noting that facing established teams provides important lessons for growth.
“We’ve learned a lot,” he added.
He acknowledged that preparation could have been better, but praised the players for their effort and resilience throughout the campaign.
“The team gave their best,” he stressed.
For the founder, the focus now shifts to building on the experience and improving ahead of future competitions.
“We will come back stronger,” he noted.
The Flyers’ debut may not have produced the desired results, but it has laid a foundation for development and ambition.
“It’s a starting point,” he said.
As the team reflects on its journey, the lessons learned are expected to shape its future.
For Achii, the message is clear.
Learn from defeat.
Build for tomorrow.
And keep pushing.
Because in sport, every setback is an opportunity to grow—and Marktown Flyers are just getting started.
