2026 BAL season
| 2026 BAL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Basketball Africa League |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Duration | TBA |
| Games | TBA |
| Teams | TBA |
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]
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
| Association | Team | Qualification method |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | Kriol Star | Direct qualification |
| Libya | Al Ahly Ly | First round West Division Group A winner |
| Mali | CRB Tombouctou | First round West Division Group A runners-up |
| Ivory Coast | JCA | First round West Division Group B winner |
| Ghana | Spintex Knights | First round West Division Group B runners-up |
| Gabon | Moanda | First round West Division Group C winner |
| DR Congo | New Generation | First round West Division Group C runners-up |
| Central African Republic | New Tech Bantou | First round West Division best third place |
East Division
| Association | Team | Qualification method |
|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | BEAC | Direct qualification |
| Kenya | Nairobi City Thunder | Direct qualification |
| Tanzania | Dar City | First round East Division Group D winner |
| Uganda | Namuwongo Blazers | First round East Division Group D runners-up |
| South Africa | Johannesburg Giants | First round East Division Group E winner |
| Mozambique | Ferroviário da Beira | First round East Division Group E runners-up |
| Zambia | Matero Magic | First round East Division Group E third place |
| Benin | Elan Coton | First round West Division second best third place |
Teams
Location of teams of the 2025 BAL season .
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
| Team | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | App. | Previous year | Cons. | Best performance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club Africain | 2024–25 Championnat Pro A | 24 May 2025 | 1st | – | 1 | Debut | [3] |
| Petro de Luanda | 2024–25 Angolan Basketball League | 30 May 2025 | 6th | 2025 | 6 | Champions (2024) | [2] |
| Al Ahly | 2024–25 Egyptian Basketball Premier League | 1 June 2025 | 3rd | 2023 | 1 | Champions (2023) | [6] |
| ASC Ville de Dakar | 2025 Nationale 1 Masculin | 30 June 2025 | 2nd | 2025 | 2 | Group phase (2025) | [7] |
| APR | 2025 RBL season | 12 July 2025 | 2nd | 2025 | 1 | Quarterfinalist (2025) | [8] |
| FUS Rabat | 2024–25 Division Excellence | 3rd | 2025 | 3 | Quarterfinalist (2024, 2025) | ||
| Lagos Legends | 2025 NBBF Premier League | 23 November 2025 | 1st | – | 1 | Debut | [9] |
| Al Ahly Ly | Elite 16 West Division finalist | 15 November 2025 | 2nd | 2024 | 1 | Runners-up (2024) | [10] |
| Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan | Elite 16 West Division finalist | 15 November 2025 | 1st | – | 1 | Debut | [11] |
| Johannesburg Giants | Elite 16 East Division finalist | 22 November 2025 | 1st | – | 1 | Debut | [12] |
| Nairobi City Thunder | Elite 16 East Division finalist | 22 November 2025 | 2nd | 2025 | 1 | Group phase (2025) | [13] |
| Dar City | Wild card | 24 November 2025 | 1st | – | 1 | Debut | [5] |
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Vicente, Adão (30 May 2025). "Petro Atlético conquista Unitel Basket". Petro de Luanda (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Competition System - FIBA Africa Champions Clubs ROAD TO B.A.L 2026 | FIBA Basketball". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Dar City Earns Wild Card Slot for 2026 Basketball Africa League After Dramatic Qualification Run". www.africabasket.net. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Championne du Sénégal, l'ASC Ville de Dakar qualifiée pour la BAL 6". Sport News Africa (in French). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Sikubwabo, Damas (12 July 2025). "APR see off REG in Game 5, win record 16th championship". The New Times. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Lagos Legends are the 2025 Nigerial League champions". www.fiba.basketball. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ "Al Ahly Benghazi secure second BAL ticket with dominant performance over Tombouctou". www.fiba.basketball. 15 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "Jeuness Club d'Abidjan becomes second Ivorian team to qualify for the BAL". www.fiba.basketball. 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "Sibanyoni's incredible block sends the Johannesburg Giants to the 2026 BAL". www.fiba.basketball. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
- ^ "Nairobi City Thunder crash Beira to clinch final BAL slot". www.fiba.basketball. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 23 November 2025.