2024 BAL season

4th season of the Basketball Africa League

2024 BAL season

League| Basketball Africa League
Season| 2024
Dates| 9 March – 1 June 2024[a]
Number of games| 48
Number of teams| 12
Seasons

← 2023 (Season 3)

2025 (Season 5) →

The 2024 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 4, will be the 4th season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The season will begin on 9 March 2024 and will finish with the final on 1 June 2024, which will be played in the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, for a fourth consecutive season.[1]

This season the league was expanded to 48 games, and from two conferences to three conferences, as South Africa will host the inaugural Kalahari Conference.[2]

Al Ahly are the defending champions, having won the previous edition.

## Venues[edit]

On 19 June 2023, the BAL and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced they agreed on a multi-year extension to their collaboration. Under the extension, it was agreed that the BK Arena in Kigali will host the playoffs and finals in the 2024, 2026 and 2028 seasons.[1]

On 5 January 2024, the host venues and schedule were announced. The SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, will be the fourth arena to host BAL games.[3]

## Format changes[edit]

The BAL expanded the total games in the season from 38 to 48. In the group phase, there will now be three conferences as the Kalahari Conference will be held in South Africa. The number of teams in the conferences is decreased to four, with all teams playing each other twice. The top two teams and the two best third-placed teams advance to the playoffs. Before the playoffs, the eight teams will play seeding teams to determine their opponents in the single-elimination playoffs. This was the second time the match-ups in the playoffs were determined on seeding, as this was last done in the inaugural season.[2]

## Qualification[edit]

### Qualified teams[edit]

The six directly qualified teams were the champions of the national leagues of six pre-selected countries. The other six team qualified through the Road to BAL.

Directly Qualified (6)

* Al Ahly
* Petro de Luanda
* US Monastir
* APR
* AS Douanes
* Rivers Hoopers

Road to BAL (6)

* Bangui Sporting Club
* FUS Rabat
* Al Ahly Benghazi
* City Oilers
* Cape Town Tigers
* Dynamo

|

### Road to BAL[edit]

Main article: 2024 BAL qualification

The Road to BAL began on 3 October and ended on 26 November 2023. On 21 September 2023, FIBA announced the 20 teams that had registered to play in the first round, which is played in five groups.[4] The final phase of the West Division was organised in Yaoundé for a third time, and Johannesburg hosted the East Division finals once again. Chad was represented for the first time in tournament history.

## Teams[edit]

AS Douanes

Al Ahly

Monastir

Petro

APR

Rivers Hoopers

FUS Rabat

Benghazi

Bangui

Dynamo

Cape Town

City Oilers

class=notpageimage|

Location of teams of the 2024 BAL season main tournament.
Yellow: Savannah Conference;  Green: Nile Conference;  Red: Kalahari Conference.

Petro de Luanda were the first team to qualify, as they won the 2022–23 Angolan Basketball League on 19 April 2023.[5]

APR, Al Ahly Benghazi, Bangui Sporting Club, Dynamo and FUS Rabat will make their BAL debuts. Al Ahly Benghazi, Bangui Sporting Club and Dynamo are the first teams from Libya, the Central African Republic, and Burundi, respectively, to play in the BAL.

Team  | Method of qualification  | Date of qualification  | BAL appearance  | Previous appearance  | Consecutive appearances  | Previous best performance  | Ref.

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Petro de Luanda | 2022–23 Angolan League champions  | 19 April 2023  | 4th  | 2023 | 4  | Runners-up (2022)  | [5]
Al Ahly | 2022–23 Egyptian Premier League champions  | 15 May 2023  | 2nd  | 2023 | 2  | Champions (2023)  | [6]
US Monastir | 2022–23 Championnat Pro A champions  | 27 May 2023  | 4th  | 2023 | 4  | Champions (2022)  | [7]
APR | 2023 RBL season champions  | 9 September 2023  | 1st  | —  | 1  | —  | [8]
AS Douanes | 2023 Nationale 1 champions  | 17 September 2023  | 3rd  | 2023 | 2  | Runners-up (2023)  | [9]
Bangui Sporting Club | Road to BAL West Division champions  | 4 November 2023  | 1st  | —  | 1  | —  | [10]
FUS Rabat | Road to BAL West Division runners-up  | 4 November 2023  | 1st  | —  | 1  | —  | [11]
Al Ahly Benghazi | Road to BAL West Division third place  | 5 November 2023  | 1st  | —  | 1  | —  | [12]
City Oilers | Road to BAL East Division runners-up  | 25 November 2023  | 2nd  | 2023 | 2  | Group phase (2023)  | [13]
Cape Town Tigers | Road to BAL East Division champions  | 25 November 2023  | 3rd  | 2023 | 3  | Quarterfinals (2022, 2023)  | [14]
Rivers Hoopers | 2023 NBBF Premier League champions  | 25 November 2023  | 2nd  | 2021 | 1  | Group phase (2021)  | [15]
Dynamo | Road to BAL East Division third place  | 26 November 2023  | 1st  | —  | 1  | —  | [16]

### Personnel[edit]

As of 26 November 2023.

Team  | Head coach  | Captain

|
|

Al Ahly  |  Augustí Julbe[17] |  Seif Samir
Al Ahly Benghazi  |  Aoun Monaem |
APR  |  Maz Trakh |  Jean Jacques Nshobozwa
AS Douanes  |  Pabi Guèye |  Alkaly Ndour
Bangui Sporting Club  |  Liz Mills |  Max Kouguère
Cape Town Tigers  |  Mlungisi Ngwenya |
City Oilers  |  Andrew Tendo[18] |
Dynamo  |  Julien Chaignot[19] |  Alvin Ninziza
FUS Rabat  |  Said El Bouzidi |
Petro de Luanda  |  José Neto[20] |  Carlos Morais
Rivers Hoopers  |  Ogoh Odaudu |
US Monastir  |  Adel Tlatli[21] |

### Foreign and Elevate players[edit]

Each BAL team was allowed to have four foreign players on its roster, including only two non-African players. Players in italics were signed only for the playoffs. If players have multiple nationalities, the nationality of an African nation is shown.

Each team will also have one player from the NBA Academy Africa, under the BAL Elevate program.

Team  | Players  |  | Elevate player

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|
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1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | –
Al Ahly  |  Prince Ali[22] |  Tony Mitchell[23] |  |  |  |
Al Ahly Benghazi  |  Jesse Jones[24] |  Jo Lual-Acuil[25] |  Pierre Jackson[26] |  Kevin Murphy[27] |  Majok Deng[28] |
APR  |  Dario Hunt[29] |  Zion Styles[30] |  Michael Dixon[31] |  |  |
AS Douanes  |  Abdoulaye Harouna[32] |  |  |  |  |
Bangui Sporting Club  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cape Town Tigers  |  |  |  |  |  |
City Oilers  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dynamo  |  Dhieu Deing[19] |  Morakinyo Williams[33] |  Bryton Hobbs[34] |  |  |
FUS Rabat  |  Aliou Diarra[35] |  Ken Brown[36] |  |  |  |
Petro de Luanda  |  Markeith Cummings[37] |  Anthony Nelson[38] |  |  |  |
Rivers Hoopers  |  Will Perry[39] |  |  |  |  |
US Monastir  |  Ater Majok[40] |  |  |  |  |

Notes

## Pre-season[edit]

For a second consecutive season, the BAL champions directly qualified for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. At the 2023 Singapore edition, Al Ahly represented the league. Al Ahly finished in the fourth place, after previously beating the NBA G League Ignite to become the first African team to win a game in the competition's history.

The league hosted the third BAL Combine at the Ibn Yassine Omnisports Hall in Rabat, Morocco, between 5 January and 7 January 2024. It was the first combine to be held on the African continent, after the previous editions were hosted in Paris and New York.[3] A total of 30 players participated under combine director Robert Pack.[3]

## Schedule[edit]

The schedule for the 2024 season was officially released on 5 January 2024.[3]

Phase  | Round  | Draw date  | Games

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|
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Qualifying rounds
(Road to BAL) | First Round  | –  | 3 – 23 October 2023
Elite 16  | 23 October 2023  | 31 October – 26 November 2023
Regular season  | Kalahari Conference  | –  | 9 – 17 March 2024
Nile Conference  | 19 – 27 April 2024
Sahara Conference  | 4 – 12 May 2024
Seeding games  | 24 May – 1 June 2024
Playoffs  | Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final and third place

## Group phase[edit]

The group phase will be played between 9 March and 12 May 2024. The 12 teams of the group phase are divided into three conferences. In addition to the Sahara Conference and Nile Conference, the inaugural Kalahari Conference will take place.

Tiebreakers

The ranking of teams in the regular season is determined as follows:[41]

1. Win-loss record;
2. Head-to-head record;
3. Point differential in the games between the respective teams;
4. Number of points scored in the games between the respective teams;
5. Average point differential in all games against other teams in the Conference;
6. Average number of points scored in all games played against other teams in the Conference;
7. Drawing.

### Kalahari Conference[edit]

Main article: 2024 BAL Kalahari Conference

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  CTT |  FUS |  PDL |  DYN

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1  |  Cape Town Tigers (H) | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to playoffs |  | -- |  |  |
2  |  FUS Rabat | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |  |  | -- |  |
3  |  Petro de Luanda | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possibly advance to the playoffs |  |  |  | -- |
4  |  Dynamo | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | --

First match(es) will be played: 9 March 2024. Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

### Nile Conference[edit]

Main article: 2024 BAL Nile Conference

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  ASC |  AHB |  COB |  BSC

|
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1  |  Al Ahly (H) | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to playoffs |  | -- |  |  |
2  |  Al Ahly Benghazi | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |  |  | -- |  |
3  |  City Oilers | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possibly advance to the playoffs |  |  |  | -- |
4  |  Bangui Sporting Club | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | --

First match(es) will be played: 19 April 2024. Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

### Sahara Conference[edit]

Main article: 2024 BAL Sahara Conference

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification  |  |  ASD |  APR |  USM |  RIV

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1  |  AS Douanes | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to playoffs |  | -- |  |  |
2  |  APR | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |  |  | -- |  |
3  |  US Monastir | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possibly advance to the playoffs |  |  |  | -- |
4  |  Rivers Hoopers | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |  |  |  |  |  | --

First match(es) will be played: 4 May 2024. Source: BAL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

### Ranking of third-placed teams[edit]

Pos | Grp | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification

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1  | Kalahari  | Kalahari Conference third-ranked team  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to playoffs
2  | Nile  | Nile Conference third-ranked team  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | Sahara  | Sahara Conference third-ranked team  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

Source: BAL

## Seeding games[edit]

The seeding games between the eight teams that advanced from the group phase, will be held on 24 May in the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.[2] This is the first year in which seeding games are played.

## Playoffs[edit]

The playoffs and finals will be held from 24 May to 1 June 2024 in the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.[2]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ The qualification rounds began on 3 October 2023 and ended 20 November 2023.

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "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. ^ a b c d "BAL Expands to South Africa for Fourth Season tipping off in March 2024". The BAL. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
3. ^ a b c d "Basketball Africa League announces host cities, venues and dates for 2024 regular season tipping off March 9 in Pretoria, South Africa". NBA.com. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
4. ^ "Schedule and venues confirmed for the 2023 Road to BAL". FIBA.basketball. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
5. ^ a b da Silva, Juscelino (20 April 2023). "Petro de Luanda conquista 16º título". Jornal de Angola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 April 2023.
6. ^ "الخطيب يهنئ لاعبي السلة وجهازهم الفني والإداري والطبي ببطولة دوري السوبر". Al Ahly (in Arabic). 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
7. ^ "African Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings". www.afrobasket.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
8. ^ "PHOTOS: Basketball: APR clinch first championship in 14 years". 9 September 2023.
9. ^ "Championne du Sénégal après son succès sur la JA (64-56), l'AS Douanes retourne à la BAL !". Basketsenegal (in French). 17 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
10. ^ "Bangui stun star-studded Benghazi to book first-ever BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
11. ^ "FUS Rabat clinch BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
12. ^ "Al Ahly Benghazi pick last ticket from the West Division to the BAL 2024 season". FIBA.basketball. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
13. ^ "City Oilers first team to book 2024 BAL slot in Joburg". FIBA.basketball. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
14. ^ "Nkosinathi Sibanyoni powers Cape Town Tigers to 2024 BAL". FIBA.basketball. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
15. ^ Busari, Niyi. "Rivers Hoopers Crowned NBBF Final 4 Champions, Pick BAL Ticket". BSN Sports. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
16. ^ "Dynamo outlast COSPN, secure last BAL ticket". FIBA.basketball. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
17. ^ "Al Ahly Extend Augustí's Contract For 2 More Years". Al Ahly. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
18. ^ "Tendo, Koma appointed City Oilers' coaches". MTN Sports. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
19. ^ a b @dynamobasketballclub (24 January 2024). "News: @dhieudeng the south Sudanese shooting guard has arrived in Bujumbura after the coach @julienchaignot and the player @thelionkillaa are already here as our recruits for @thebal . Other new recruits are expected to arrive next week to complete our roster. Welcome @dhieudeng 💚🤍" - via Instagram.
20. ^ "José Neto renova contrato com o Petro de Luanda". Databasket (in Brazilian Portuguese). 6 August 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
21. ^ "Basket : l'USMO a un nouveau coach". Sport News Africa (in French). 8 December 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
22. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (27 February 2024). "Al Ahly Cairo inks Prince Ali". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
23. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (27 February 2024). "Tony Mitchell agreed terms with Al Ahly Cairo". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
24. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (19 January 2024). "Jesse Jones (ex Hoops) signs at Ahly Benghazi". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
25. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (22 February 2024). "Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (ex Melbourne) signs at Ahly Benghazi". Afrobasket.com.
26. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (22 February 2024). "Pierre Jackson (ex Nanjing MK) signs at Ahly Benghazi". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
27. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (22 February 2024). "Kevin Murphy (ex Ittihad) is a newcomer at Ahly Benghazi". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
28. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (22 February 2023). "Ahly Benghazi inks Majok Deng". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
29. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (4 January 2024). "APR sign American center Dario Hunt ahead of BAL". The New Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
30. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (6 December 2023). "American guard Zion Styles joins APR ahead of BAL 2024". The New Times. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
31. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (7 December 2023). "APR enter residential camp ahead of BAL 2024". The New Times. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
32. ^ "Basketball : L'AS Douanes s'offre l'arrière nigérien Abdoulaye Harouna" (in French). 28 December 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
33. ^ @dynamobasketballclub (26 January 2024). "@kinyowilliams the British big man has arrived today in Bujumbura. He is our third recruitment for the BAL so far. He plays at the center position and is here to bring his experience in basketball to the team at @thebal" - via Instagram.
34. ^ @dynamobasketballclub (27 January 2024). "The point guard @iso.hov has arrived in Bujumbura as our fourth recruit for @thebal . Welcome 💚🤍" - via Instagram.
35. ^ "FUS Rabat inks Aliou Diarra". Afrobasket.com. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
36. ^ @fusbasketball (19 January 2024). "Welcome to our new signing. Ken Brown officially in town" - via Instagram.
37. ^ @petro_de_luanda_oficial (26 February 2024). "Bem-vindo/Welcome Markieth Cummings! @2cummings" - via Instagram.
38. ^ @petro_de_luanda_oficial (26 February 2024). "Bem-vindo/Welcome Anthony Nelson!" - via Instagram.
39. ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (24 February 2024). "Patriots star Perry joins Rivers Hoopers ahead of BAL 2024". The New Times. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
40. ^ Hamid Addasi, Abdul (22 February 2024). "Majok comes back to US Monastir, ex Sagesse". Afrobasket.com. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
41. ^ "What can happen on the last day of the 2023 Sahara Conference?". The BAL. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Basketball Africa League

Seasons|

* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Qualifying rounds|

* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Playoffs|

* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Teams|

| 2024 season teams|

* Al Ahly
* Al Ahly Benghazi
* APR
* AS Douanes
* Bangui Sporting Club
* Cape Town Tigers
* City Oilers
* Dynamo
* FUS Rabat
* Petro de Luanda
* Rivers Hoopers
* US Monastir

|

Former teams|

* ABC Fighters
* AS Police
* AS Salé
* Cobra Sport
* DUC
* Espoir Fukash
* FAP
* Ferroviário da Beira
* Ferroviário de Maputo
* GS Pétroliers
* GNBC
* Kwara Falcons
* Patriots BBC
* REG
* SLAC
* Stade Malien
* Zamalek

Arenas|

* BK Arena
* Dakar Arena
* Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall
* SunArena at Time Square

Competition stages|

* Road to BAL
* Sahara Conference
* Nile Conference
* Kalahari Conference
* Finals

Awards|

* Most Valuable Player
* All-First Team
* All-Defensive Team
* Defensive Player of the Year
* Sportsmanship Award
* Ubuntu Award

Records and statistics|

* Records list (Single-game points record)
* Annual statistical leaders

Associated|

* NBA
* FIBA
* FIBA Africa
* FIBA Africa Basketball League (Defunct)
* Amadou Gallo Fall

* Category

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[Grp]: Group
*[PF]: Points for
*[PA]: Points against
*[PD]: Point difference