2026 BAL season

Last updated

2026 BAL season
League Basketball Africa League
Sport Basketball
DurationTBA
GamesTBA
TeamsTBA
Seasons
2027 →

The 2026 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 6, will be the 6th season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The playoffs and finals will be held in BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, for a fifth time, as a result of a long-term agreement with the country. [1]

Contents

The winners will earn the right to play in the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Al Ahli Tripoli were the previous champions, but have not yet qualified for the competition.

Venues

Under a long-term agreement between the Rwanda Development Board and the BAL, the playoffs and finals will be held in the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, for a record fifth time. [1]

Qualification

Elite 16

West Division

AssociationTeamQualification method
Flag of Cape Verde.svg Cape Verde Kriol Star Direct qualification
Flag of Libya.svg  Libya Al Ahly Ly First round West Division Group A winner
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali CRB Tombouctou First round West Division Group A runners-up
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast JCA First round West Division Group B winner
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana Spintex Knights First round West Division Group B runners-up
Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon Moanda First round West Division Group C winner
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg DR Congo New Generation First round West Division Group C runners-up
Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic New Tech Bantou First round West Division best third place

East Division

AssociationTeamQualification method
Flag of Cameroon.svg Cameroon BEAC Direct qualification
Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Nairobi City Thunder Direct qualification
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania Dar City First round East Division Group D winner
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda Namuwongo Blazers First round East Division Group D runners-up
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Johannesburg Giants First round East Division Group E winner
Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique Ferroviário da Beira First round East Division Group E runners-up
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia Matero Magic First round East Division Group E third place
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin Elan Coton First round West Division second best third place

Teams

Petro de Luanda qualified for its sixth BAL season, a record for most appearances by any club. [2] For the first time in league history, US Monastir did not represent Tunisia, as they lost to Club Africain in the Championnat Pro A finals. [3]

For this season, eight teams qualified directly to the main stage, including the champions of Morocco and South Africa. [4] Dar City from Tanzania was given a wild card after finishing third in the East Division of the Road to BAL. [5]

Method of qualification and statistics

TeamMethod of qualificationDate of qualificationApp.Previous yearCons.Best performanceRef.
Flag of Tunisia.svg Club Africain 2024–25 Championnat Pro A 24 May 20251st–1Debut [3]
Flag of Angola.svg Petro de Luanda 2024–25 Angolan Basketball League 30 May 20256th 2025 6Champions (2024) [2]
Flag of Egypt.svg Al Ahly 2024–25 Egyptian Basketball Premier League 1 June 20253rd 2023 1Champions (2023) [6]
Flag of Senegal.svg ASC Ville de Dakar 2025 Nationale 1 Masculin 30 June 20252nd 2025 2Group phase (2025) [7]
Flag of Rwanda.svg APR 2025 RBL season 12 July 20252nd 2025 1Quarterfinalist (2025) [8]
Flag of Morocco.svg FUS Rabat 2024–25 Division Excellence 3rd 2025 3Quarterfinalist (2024, 2025)
Flag of Nigeria.svg Lagos Legends 2025 NBBF Premier League 23 November 20251st–1Debut [9]
Flag of Libya.svg Al Ahly Ly Elite 16 West Division finalist15 November 20252nd 2024 1Runners-up (2024) [10]
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan Elite 16 West Division finalist15 November 20251st–1Debut [11]
Flag of South Africa.svg Johannesburg Giants Elite 16 East Division finalist22 November 20251st–1Debut [12]
Flag of Kenya.svg Nairobi City Thunder Elite 16 East Division finalist22 November 20252nd 2025 1Group phase (2025) [13]
Flag of Tanzania.svg Dar City Wild card 24 November 20251st–1Debut [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Basketball Africa League and Rwanda Development Board announce multi-year extension to play BAL games in Kigali". NBA.com: NBA Communications. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Vicente, Adão (30 May 2025). "Petro Atlético conquista Unitel Basket". Petro de Luanda (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  3. 1 2 Boubaker, Saber (24 May 2025). "Basketball – Pro A: Club Africain Crowned Tunisian Champion for the Fifth Time After Defeating US Monastir". Tunisie. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Competition System - FIBA Africa Champions Clubs ROAD TO B.A.L 2026 | FIBA Basketball". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Dar City Earns Wild Card Slot for 2026 Basketball Africa League After Dramatic Qualification Run". www.africabasket.net. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  6. ↑ "الأهلي بطلا لدوري سوبر السلة | كووورة" [Al Ahly crowned champions of the Basketball Super League]. www.kooora.com (in Arabic). 1 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "Championne du Sénégal, l'ASC Ville de Dakar qualifiée pour la BAL 6". Sport News Africa (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Sikubwabo, Damas (12 July 2025). "APR see off REG in Game 5, win record 16th championship". The New Times. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  9. ↑ "Lagos Legends are the 2025 Nigerial League champions". www.fiba.basketball. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  10. ↑ "Al Ahly Benghazi secure second BAL ticket with dominant performance over Tombouctou". www.fiba.basketball. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "Jeuness Club d'Abidjan becomes second Ivorian team to qualify for the BAL". www.fiba.basketball. 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Sibanyoni's incredible block sends the Johannesburg Giants to the 2026 BAL". www.fiba.basketball. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Nairobi City Thunder crash Beira to clinch final BAL slot". www.fiba.basketball. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
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