Basketball Africa League to Launch Its Sixth Season in 2026
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is gearing up for an exhilarating sixth season, set to kick off at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. This year, the league is introducing five new teams, intensifying the competition and enriching the experience for fans across Africa.
Overview of the 2026 BAL Season
The upcoming season will showcase 12 elite club teams from 12 different African countries, culminating in a total of 42 games played during the Kalahari Conference group phase from March 27 to April 5, 2026. This year’s participating teams highlight the expanding reach and popularity of the BAL, which continues to gain traction internationally.
Expanding Presence and Format
The BAL has seen significant growth year-over-year as evidenced by its increasing number of host cities—now expanding from three to four—and the total number of games played from 38 to 48. Following the Kalahari Conference, the Sahara Conference group phase is scheduled to take place from April 24 to May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco. The Playoffs and Finals will then occur from May 22 to May 31 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
Exciting New Teams and Returning Champions
The 2026 BAL season will be particularly memorable as it welcomes first-time participants Dar City from Tanzania, along with JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire), Maktown Flyers (Nigeria), Johannesburg Giants (South Africa), and Club Africain (Tunisia). The 2024 BAL champion, Petro de Luanda (Angola), continues to solidify its legacy as the only team to participate in all six seasons, while 2023 champion, Al Ahly (Egypt), will seek to defend its title.
Insights from BAL Leadership
“Welcoming these new teams into the BAL family underscores the league’s ongoing growth and the vital role it plays in enriching the African basketball ecosystem,” stated Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the BAL. He also emphasized the importance of engaging their passionate fans throughout South Africa, Morocco, Rwanda, and beyond as they strive to elevate the BAL as the top sports and entertainment platform on the continent.
How Teams Qualify for the BAL
For the 2026 season, national league champions from seven countries—Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia—secured automatic spots in the league. The remaining five teams gained entry through various qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Africa from October to December 2025.
Each conference will feature a 15-game group phase, with teams competing against each other once.
Season Opener Details
The season will commence with an exciting matchup: APR will face Al Ahly at 4:00 PM CAT, followed by Johannesburg Giants taking on Dar City at 7:00 PM CAT. Tickets for the Kalahari Conference group phase in Pretoria are currently available at Ticketmaster.za.
Eight teams will advance from the two conferences to the Playoffs in Kigali, and tickets for the Sahara Conference group phase in Rabat, alongside the Playoffs and Finals, will be released soon. Fans can register their interest for tickets at BAL.NBA.com, where they’ll also gain complimentary access to the BAL Fan Zone at each arena.
About the Basketball Africa League
The Basketball Africa League is a groundbreaking partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, bringing together 12 club teams from across the continent. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL leverages FIBA Africa’s long history of facilitating club competitions, marking the NBA’s inaugural venture into operating a league outside of North America.
Fans can stay updated by following the BAL on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, and YouTube. For additional information regarding the 2026 season, including ticketing updates, visit BAL.NBA.com.
This season promises to be filled with thrilling competitions and unforgettable moments, as basketball fans across Africa eagerly anticipate the action and drama of the BAL!
