The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL): A Season of Milestones and Fierce Competition
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), Africa’s premier men’s basketball league, is in full swing for its fifth season, captivating fans across the continent and beyond. Launched in 2019 as a partnership between NBA Africa and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the BAL has grown into a showcase of elite African talent, cultural pride, and global basketball ambition. The 2025 season, which tipped off on April 5, 2025, is proving to be a landmark year with historic debuts, expanded reach, and intense competition.
Season Overview and Format
The 2025 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 5, runs from April 5 to June 14, 2025, featuring 12 top club teams from 12 African countries playing a record 48 games across four host cities: Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda; and Pretoria, South Africa, where the playoffs and finals will be held for the first time. The season is structured around three conferences—Kalahari, Sahara, and Nile—each consisting of four teams. In the group phase, each team plays the other three teams in its conference twice, totaling 12 games per conference. The top two teams from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, joined by the two best third-placed teams across all conferences based on their win-loss records and point differentials. The eight qualifying teams then compete in Pretoria for four seeding games, followed by a single-elimination playoff tournament culminating in the finals from June 6 to June 14.
This season marks a significant milestone with a record six new teams, including first-ever participants from Cape Verde (Kriol Star) and Kenya (Nairobi City Thunder), alongside returning powerhouses like defending champions Petro de Luanda (Angola) and 2022 champions US Monastir (Tunisia). The BAL also honors NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo with “DM55” patches on jerseys and moments of silence, celebrating his legacy in African basketball.
Kalahari Conference: A Dominant Start in Rabat
The 2025 season began with the Kalahari Conference, hosted at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco, from April 5 to April 13, 2025. This marked the first time BAL games were held in Morocco, a testament to the league’s expanding footprint. The Kalahari Conference featured four teams:
– Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria)
– FUS Rabat (Morocco, hosts)
– Stade Malien (Mali)
– Al Ittihad Alexandria (Egypt)
The competition was fierce, with Al Ittihad Alexandria emerging as the standout, going undefeated with a 6-0 record and an average win margin of over 17 points. Rivers Hoopers, coming off a third-place finish in 2024, also performed strongly, securing a playoff spot. FUS Rabat, bolstered by home support, showed flashes of brilliance but fell short of the top two. Stade Malien struggled to keep pace, finishing at the bottom.
Kalahari Conference Final Standings
FUS Rabat’s third-place finish makes them eligible for one of the two best third-placed team playoff spots, pending the outcomes of the Sahara and Nile Conferences.
Sahara Conference
The Sahara Conference, currently underway, began on April 26, 2025, at the Dakar Arena in Dakar, Senegal, and will conclude on May 4, 2025. The four competing teams are:
– Petro de Luanda (Angola, defending champions)
– US Monastir (Tunisia, 2022 champions)
– ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal, hosts)
– Kriol Star (Cape Verde)
The Sahara Conference is in its early stages, with teams having played three games each. Petro de Luanda, aiming to become the first team to win back-to-back BAL titles, hasn’t started strongly, with one win and two losses. US Monastir, with a bolstered roster including Christian Anigwe, is a formidable contender, with two wins and one loss. ASC Ville de Dakar, powered by home support and players like First Team All-BAL performer Will Perry and 7-foot center Ater Majok, is pushing for a playoff spot, with two wins and one loss. Kriol Star, the first Cape Verdean team in BAL history, has struggled against the more experienced sides, with two losses and one win.
Sahara Conference Standings
Nile Conference
The Nile Conference is set to tip off on May 17, 2025, and will run through May 25, 2025, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, a venue that has hosted BAL games since the league’s inception. The four teams competing are:
– APR (Rwanda, hosts)
– Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)
– MBB (South Africa)
– Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya)
Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder, Lydia’s Al Ahli Tripoli and South Africa’s MBB are all debutants, adding an element of unpredictability. APR, owned by the Rwandan Ministry of Defence, has a storied history in Rwandan basketball and qualified automatically as national champions. MBB, a South African wildcard entry, features talents like Pieter Prinsloo but faces challenges due to limited financial backing compared to past South African teams like the Cape Town Tigers. Al Ahly Tripoli brings Libyan representation, while Nairobi City Thunder carries the hopes of Kenya.
Nairobi City Thunder: Kenya’s Historic Breakthrough
The 2025 season marks a historic moment for Kenyan basketball, as Nairobi City Thunder became the first Kenyan team to qualify for the BAL. Founded in 1998 as the NSSF Stars, the club rebranded to Nairobi City Thunder in 2010 and was acquired by Twende Sports Limited in 2023, which professionalized its operations. They earned their BAL spot by winning the 2024 Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) Premier League and dominating the Road to BAL East Division, defeating Kriol Star in the final.
Kenya’s previous BAL attempts were lackluster. Over the four prior seasons, no Kenyan team reached the main tournament, with clubs like Ulinzi Warriors and Kenya Ports Authority falling short in the Road to BAL qualifiers. Nairobi City Thunder’s breakthrough has galvanized Kenyan fans, with thousands rallying behind the team on social media and at watch parties in Nairobi, Mombasa, and beyond. The team’s roster, blending local stars like Tylor Ongwae with international talents like Abdoulaye Harouna, Ater Majok, and Uchenna Iroegbu, has raised expectations. Thunder are dark horses in the Nile Conference, with their athleticism and cohesion potentially propelling them to the playoffs.
BAL Cash Prizes and Salaries
While exact figures for the 2025 season’s cash prizes are not yet public, historical data provides insight. In the inaugural 2021 season, champions received $100,000, runners-up $75,000, third place $55,000, and fourth place $25,000. Given the BAL’s growth, prize money is likely to have increased, though official confirmation is pending. Player salaries vary widely, with top stars earning competitive wages supplemented by endorsements, while others receive modest stipends. The BAL’s focus on professionalizing African basketball has attracted talents former NBA players like Ben Uzoh, Joshua Hall and Ike Diogu, elevating the league’s financial profile.
BAL’s Rapid Expansion and Popularity
The BAL is experiencing exponential growth in popularity. In 2024, the league set a single-season attendance record with over 80,000 fans attending games, and games generated 238,000 watch hours across digital platforms. The 2025 season’s expansion to Morocco and the inclusion of new teams from Cape Verde and Kenya have broadened its appeal. Broadcast in up to 215 countries in 14 languages, BAL games are accessible on NBA.com, the NBA App, BAL YouTube, and BAL.NBA.com, with select games on ESPN Africa platforms.
Sponsors play a pivotal role in this growth. Foundational partners include the Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, and Wilson, with additional support from Afreximbank, Hennessy, and RwandAir. These partnerships fund youth programs like BAL4HER and the M-PESA Jr. NBA, engaging over 10,000 young athletes in 2025.
Despite its success, the BAL has faced criticism for its ties to the Rwandan government, with some accusing it of sportswashing.
Chiney Ogwumike: Trailblazing as First Female Ambassador
On December 20, 2024, two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike was named the BAL’s first female ambassador, a landmark appointment announced by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. A passionate advocate for gender equity, Ogwumike is leveraging her platform to promote basketball development and inspire young women through initiatives like the BAL4HER Leadership Conference, hosted in Rabat, Dakar, Kigali, and Pretoria. Her involvement, alongside ambassadors like Festus Ezeli and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, underscores the BAL’s commitment to inclusivity.
The 2025 BAL season is not just about basketball. The league is hosting coaching clinics, U-23 women’s camps, and Special Olympics programming, engaging over 5,000 youth in 2024 alone. The BAL Combine in Rabat (January 10-12, 2025) showcased over 30 aspiring players, further bridging African talent to global opportunities. Players like Chris Crawford, the BAL’s all-time scoring leader with 341 points, and young stars like Duke commit Khaman Maluach, highlight the league’s role in producing NBA-caliber talent.
As the Sahara Conference nears its climax and the Nile Conference looms, the 2025 BAL season is shaping up as a celebration of African basketball’s present and future. With Nairobi City Thunder carrying Kenya’s dreams, new teams breaking barriers, and fans tuning in globally, the BAL is cementing its place as a transformative force in world basketball.
Read more stories on SportsBiz Kenya
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook , X(Twitter) & YouTube
