From Dakar on February 26, 2026, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) unveiled the 12 teams and full group phase schedule for its 2026 season — a campaign that will tip off on Friday, March 27 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
Now entering its sixth season, the BAL continues to cement itself as Africa’s premier professional club basketball competition, uniting elite talent from across the continent in a 42-game journey that will span South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda.
But 2026 is more than just another season — it is a landmark moment of expansion, inclusion and competitive evolution.
A Historic 12-Team Line-Up
The 2026 BAL season will feature 12 club teams representing 12 African countries. Among them are five first-time participants — a clear sign of the league’s accelerating continental footprint.
Making history this season:
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Dar City becomes the first-ever BAL participant from Tanzania.
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First-time participants also include:
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JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire)
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Maktown Flyers (Nigeria)
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Johannesburg Giants (South Africa)
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Club Africain (Tunisia)
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They join established BAL powerhouses including:
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2024 champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) — the only team to qualify for all six BAL seasons.
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2023 champion Al Ahly (Egypt).
The full roster of 2026 participating teams:
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Johannesburg Giants (South Africa)*
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Fath Union Sport Rabat (Morocco)
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Al Ahly Ly (Libya)
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Al Ahly (Egypt)
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Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball Club – APR (Rwanda)
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ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal)
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Dar City (Tanzania)*
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Club Africain (Tunisia)*
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Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)
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JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire)*
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Petro de Luanda (Angola)
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Maktown Flyers (Nigeria)*
*First-time BAL participant
The league’s expansion reflects the growing strength of domestic competitions across the continent and the widening pathway to elite club basketball.
Three Cities. Two Conferences. One Champion.
The 2026 season will unfold across three host countries:
🔹 Kalahari Conference
March 27 – April 5
SunBet Arena
The season opener on March 27 will see APR face Al Ahly Ly at 4:00 p.m. CAT, followed by the Johannesburg Giants taking on Dar City at 7:00 p.m. CAT.
Tickets for the Kalahari Conference are currently on sale via Ticketmaster South Africa.
🔹 Sahara Conference
April 24 – May 3
Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat
🔹 Playoffs and Finals
May 22 – May 31
BK Arena in Kigali
Across the two conferences, each team will play five group-stage games (15 games per conference). The top eight teams overall will advance to the playoffs in Kigali.
Fans who purchase tickets will receive free access to the BAL Fan Zone at each arena.
Tickets for the Sahara Conference and the Playoffs and Finals will be available soon, with fan registration open at BAL.NBA.com.
Qualification Pathways: Champions and Contenders
Seven national league champions automatically qualified for the 2026 BAL season from:
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Angola
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Egypt
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Morocco
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Nigeria
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Rwanda
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Senegal
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Tunisia
The remaining five teams secured their place through the Road to the BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Africa between October and December 2025.
A League Growing in Power and Purpose
BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall described the expansion as a defining indicator of the league’s trajectory:
“Welcoming five new teams into the BAL family is a powerful sign of the league’s continued growth, the impact it is having on the African basketball ecosystem, and the incredible talent developing across the continent. We look forward to engaging our passionate fans in South Africa, Morocco, Rwanda and those watching across Africa and around the world as we continue to establish the BAL as the continent’s preeminent sport and entertainment property.”
Six seasons in, the BAL is no longer an experiment. It is infrastructure. It is aspiration. It is continental pride expressed through sport.
On March 27 in Pretoria, when the ball goes up inside SunBet Arena, it will represent more than the start of another campaign.
It will represent Africa’s game — organized, elevated and broadcast to the world.
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