WeeklySA_AdminPATHWAY: Africa’s premier club basketball competition returns on March 27, with South Africa hosting the opening games and Rwanda set to crown the 2026 champions…
By WSA Sports Reporter
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) will tip off its sixth season on March 27, at the SunBet Arena, marking the league’s return to South Africa as a host nation.
The 2026 season will culminate with the BAL Finals on Sunday, May 31, at the BK Arena, as 12 of Africa’s top club teams from 12 countries compete across three host cities: Pretoria; Rabat, Morocco; and Kigali.
The season will feature 42 games, with teams split into two conferences of six. Each conference will contest a 15-game group phase, with teams playing every other team in their conference once.
The Kalahari Conference will play from March 27 to April 5 in Pretoria, while the Sahara Conference group phase will run from April 24 to May 3 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. The top eight teams across both conferences will advance to the Playoffs in Kigali from May 22 to May 31.
“Returning to South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda for our sixth season speaks to the strong sporting cultures and rapidly growing basketball ecosystems in those countries,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, adding that the league continues to drive global recognition for African basketball talent.
FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave said the league’s growth highlights the importance of the Road to the BAL as a pathway for clubs across the continent. “Entering the sixth season with such momentum is a testament to the BAL’s influence on players, clubs and communities,” he said.
Beyond the court, the BAL will again blend basketball with African culture through music, fashion, lifestyle and entertainment, while expanding its development and social impact programmes. These include youth, coach and referee clinics, literacy initiatives, and BAL4HER programmes supporting young women in sport across host markets and selected African countries.The Rwanda Development Board returns as a Foundational Partner, alongside Afreximbank, Air Senegal, Amazon Web Services, Castle Lite, RwandAir and others.
The 2025 season reached fans in 214 countries and territories, set a league attendance record of more than 140 000 spectators, and generated over 1.2 billion social media impressions. Libya’s Al Ahli Tripoli became the first Libyan club to win the BAL title.
The 12 participating teams for the 2026 season will be announced at a later date. Fans can register their interest in tickets via the BAL’s official platforms.
