BAL 2026: APR and Petro de Luanda headline tough group ahead of Kigali finals

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has officially announced the 12 teams and full group phase schedule for its 2026 season, marking the league’s sixth campaign.

The new season will tip off on March 27, 2026, at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and will feature 42 games played across three countries: South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda.

This year’s competition will showcase 12 club teams representing 12 different African nations.

Notably, the 2026 season includes Dar City, the first-ever BAL participant from Tanzania. 

Four additional clubs will make their BAL debuts: JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire), Maktown Flyers (Nigeria), Johannesburg Giants (South Africa), and Club Africain (Tunisia).

Reigning 2024 champions Petro de Luanda of Angola return as the only team to have qualified for all six BAL seasons, alongside 2023 champions Al Ahly of Egypt.

The group phase will be divided into two conferences. The Kalahari Conference will take place from March 27 to April 5 in Pretoria.

The Sahara Conference will follow from April 24 to May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.

The season will culminate with the Playoffs and Finals from May 22 to May 31 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

The 12 participating teams are: Johannesburg Giants (South Africa), Al Ahly Ly (Libya), Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club – APR (Rwanda), Dar City (Tanzania), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Fath Union Sport Rabat – FUS Rabat (Morocco), Al Ahly (Egypt), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), Club Africain (Tunisia), JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire), and Maktown Flyers (Nigeria).

Seven national league champions—from Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia—earned automatic qualification.

The remaining five teams advanced through the “Road to the BAL” qualifying tournaments organized by FIBA Africa between October and December 2025.

Each conference will feature a 15-game group phase, with teams facing every other team in their conference once.

Eight teams overall will advance to the playoffs in Kigali.

BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall emphasized that welcoming five new teams reflects the league’s continued growth and the rising level of basketball talent across Africa.

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