The 2025 Basketball Africa League season is highlighted with a new home for the Finals and playoffs and will begin in a new site.
The 2025 BAL playoffs and Finals, scheduled for June 14, 2025, will take place in a new home in Pretoria, South Africa. It will mark the first time that the BAL playoffs and Finals were not held in Kigali, Rwanda. The 2025 BAL season will also debut in a new location in Rabat, Morocco, on April 5, 2025. The 2025 BAL season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing 48 games in Rabat, Kigali and Dakar, Senegal, before heading to Pretoria for the playoffs.
“We have seen tremendous growth over the BAL’s first four seasons in the level of on-court competition, attendance and engagement from fans and partners in Africa and globally,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall in a statement. “Our milestone fifth season will build on that momentum and further showcase the level of talent and passion for basketball in Africa, including through the first BAL games in Morocco and the first BAL Finals in South Africa.”
The 12 teams will once again be divided into three conferences of four teams each. The Kalahari Conference group phase is April 5-13, 2025, in Rabat. The Sahara Conference group phase is April 26-May 4, 2025, in Dakar. The Nile Conference group phase is May 17-25, 2025, in Kigali. Eight teams from the three conferences will qualify for the playoffs in Pretoria beginning June 6 and ending with the 2025 BAL Finals.
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“The Kalahari Conference marks another expansion of the BAL into a new country on our continent and we are more than satisfied,” FIBA Africa president Anibal Manave said in a statement. “Year after year, this competition grows, giving greater exposure to our sport and helping to elevate the level of basketball in Africa by making the league more and more competitive.”
National champions from Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia automatically qualify for the BAL. The remaining five teams come from the Road to the BAL qualifying tournaments led by FIBA Africa.
During the 2024 BAL season, Petro de Luanda of Angola became the first sub-Saharan African team to a win championship. According to the BAL, the 2024 BAL season reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages, set an attendance record of more than 120,000 fans across the four host countries, and generated more than 1.2 billion impressions across NBA and BAL social media channels.
Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.
**Beyond visibility, what concrete steps can the BAL take to leverage its international exposure to create more opportunities for African basketball players and coaches?**
## World-Today-News Exclusive Interview:
**Basketball Africa League: Charting a New Course**
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World-Today News, where we delve into the biggest stories shaping our world. Today, we’re focusing on the exciting developments surrounding the Basketball Africa League (BAL), as it prepares for its fifth season. Joining us are two distinguished guests:
* **[Guest 1 Name and Credentials]** – An experienced sports journalist with a keen eye on African basketball.
* **[Guest 2 Name and Credentials]** – A prominent figure in the African sporting community, with expertise in youth development and grassroots initiatives.
**Section 1: A Growing Phenomenon**
* **Host:** The BAL has experienced remarkable growth in its first four seasons. What factors do you believe have contributed to this success, and what does this signify for the future of basketball on the continent?
* **[Guest 1]:**
* **[Guest 2]:**
* **Host:** The article mentions a significant achievement: Petro de Luanda, the first sub-Saharan African team, won the championship in 2024. How impactful is this victory for the diversification and representation within the BAL?
* **[Guest 1]:**
* **[Guest 2]:**
**Section 2: Expansion and Evolution**
* **Host:** The 2025 season brings exciting changes with new locations for the playoffs and the opening games. What are your thoughts on this geographical expansion, and what potential benefits or challenges does it present?
* **[Guest 1]:**
* **[Guest 2]:**
* **Host:**
The BAL’s commitment to hosting games in a diversity of African countries is commendable. What does this say about the league’s dedication to grassroots development and fostering basketball engagement across the continent?
* **[Guest 1]:**
* **[Guest 2]:**
**Section 3: Looking Ahead**
* **Host:** The BAL has garnered global attention, with viewership spanning numerous countries. How can the league leverage this international exposure to further promote African basketball talent and opportunities?
* **[Guest 1]:**
* **[Guest 2]:**
* **Host:** What are your hopes and expectations for the 2025 BAL season? What storylines or rivalries are you most excited to see unfold?
* **[Guest 1]:**
* **[Guest 2]:**
**Conclusion:**
Thank you to both of our guests for sharing their valuable insights. The Basketball Africa League’s continued growth and evolution are testaments to the rising passion for basketball across the continent. We’ll be eagerly following the upcoming season and witnessing the exciting moments that undoubtedly await.
