Ayade's miraculous three-pointer puts Locomotives on the verge of the BAL semi-finals

A three-pointer in the final seconds by Ayade Munguambe secured a dramatic 87-89 victory for Ferroviário da Beira over Zambia's Matero Magic on Wednesday in Nairobi. The game, valid for the second round of Group B of the Elite 16 phase of the BAL 2026, put the Mozambicans on the verge of qualifying for the semi-finals.

 The game was a real emotional rollercoaster. The Locomotivas started dominating, taking the lead in the first quarter (17-22) and consolidating their advantage at halftime (45-53). However, the second half turned into a suspenseful thriller.

 Matero Magic, seeking revenge for their defeat in the qualifying round, returned from halftime transformed. A crushing 28-13 run in the third quarter put the Zambians ahead 73-66, completely reversing the situation.

The Mozambican team showed grit to react in the decisive stage. The game remained tensely balanced until the final moments. With only 17 seconds on the clock and trailing 87-86, the Locomotivas executed a perfect attacking play. The ball reached Ayade Munguambe, who calmly launched a long-range shot, and his three-pointer landed cleanly in the net, unlocking the score in favor of the Beira team. The three-pointer, which sealed the final score of 87-89, triggered an effusive celebration from the entire bench.

Individual Highlights:

Ismael Nurmomade was the game's top scorer with 22 points.

- American Bouchum Ke Tarrious was instrumental in rebounding, recording a double-double with 14 points and 17 steals.

 With this second victory in the championship, after beating Brave Hearts BC of Malawi (78-67) in their debut, Ferroviário da Beira is practically qualified for the semi-finals. Confirmation of their qualification could happen as early as this Thursday, November 20th, when Nilton Manheira's team faces Dar City Basketball Team of Tanzania.