The qualification for the 2025 BAL season, also known as Road to BAL 2025, is the 5th season of the qualifying tournaments for the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The tournaments are organised by FIBA Africa and will begin on 8 October and will finish in November 2024.
Format changes
editThe format was changed from the previous four tournaments, as this season only four teams qualified through the Road to BAL, a decrease from the six teams in previous years.[1][2] The national champions from Morocco and South Africa received direct qualification.[2] In the first round, five groups in two divisions were played, with the top teams advancing to the elite 16. In the Elite 16 phase, the teams will be placed in two groups of eight teams each. After a round-robin tournament, the top two teams in each group will advance to the 2025 BAL season.[1]
Teams
editThe first list of teams was announced by FIBA on 9 October 2024.[3]
Confirmed teams
editWest Division
edit| Association | Team | Date of qualification | Qualification method | Participation | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entered in first round | |||||
 Benin
|
Elan Coton | 27 April 2024 | 2023–24 Benin Basketball Super League champions | 3rd | [4] |
 Burkina Faso
|
USFA | 23 September 2024 | 2024 Burkinabé Men's Basketball Championship champions | 1st | [5] |
 Cameroon
|
KSA | 22 May 2024 | 2023–24 Elite Messieurs champions | 1st | [6] |
 Cape Verde
|
Kriol Star | – | Representative of the FCBB | 1st | [3] |
 DR Congo
|
Chaux Sport | 7 September 2024 | 2024 Coupe du Congo winners | 1st | [7] |
 Ivory Coast
|
ABC Fighters | 24 June 2024 | 2024 Ligue d'Or season champions | 4th | [8] |
 Gabon
|
Moanda | 3 April 2024 | 2024 Gabonese Basketball Cupchampions | [9] | |
 Ghana
|
Spintex Knights | 14 December 2023 | 2023 Accra Basketball League champions | 1st | [10] |
 Mali
|
Stade Malien | 2024 Ligue 1 champions | 2nd | ||
 Liberia
|
Mighty Barrolle | 24 September 2024 | 2024 Liberia Basketball Association Division 1 champions | 1st | [11] |
 Libya
|
Al Ahli Tripoli | 14 July 2024 | 2023–24 Libyan Division I Basketball League champions | 1st | [12] |
East Division
edit| Association | Team | Date of qualification | Qualification method | Participation | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entered in first round | |||||
 Comoros
|
Ushindzi | 15 September 2023 | 2023 Comoros Basketball Championship winners | 2nd | |
 Ethiopia
|
Hawassa City | Unknown | 2nd | ||
 Kenya
|
Nairobi City Thunder | 20 July 2024 | 2023–24 KBF Premier League champions | 1st | [13] |
 Mozambique
|
Costa do Sol | 20 December 2023 | 2023 LMB season champions | 1st | [14] |
 Madagascar
|
GNBC | 30 October 2023 | 2024 N1A champions | 2nd | [15] |
 Malawi
|
Bravehearts | [data missing] | 2023–24 BASMAL National Championship winners | 2nd | [data missing] |
 Seychelles
|
Beau Vallon Heat | 3rd | |||
 Tanzania
|
JKT Stars | [data missing] | 2023 National Basketball Leaguechampions | 2nd | [citation needed] |
 Zambia
|
Matero Magic | 6 January 2024 | 2023–24 Zambia Basketball Leaguechampions | 3rd | [16] |
 Zimbabwe
|
Basket Hounds | 9 June 2024 | 2024 BUZ National Championshipwinners | 1st | [17] |
Potential teams and representatives
editThe following teams are eligible to play in the Road to BAL based on their domestic performance, but have not yet been confirmed by FIBA and might withdraw.
| Association | Team | Date of qualification | Qualification method | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Burundi
|
Urunani | 29 September 2024 | 2024 Viva Basketball League champions | [18] |
 Central African Republic
|
Abeilles | 29 September 2024 | 2024 Bangui Basketball League champions | [19] |
 Uganda
|
City Oilers | 4 September 2024 | 2024 NBL Uganda season champions | [20] |
| None | NBA Academy Africa | – | ||
First round
editWest Division
editThe West Division will begin with a group in Tripoli, Libya, from 8 to 13 October 2024.[21]
Group A
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Ahli Tripoli (H)
|
2 | 2 | 0 | 185 | 143 | +42 | 4 | Advance to Elite 16 |
| 2 | Stade Malien
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 147 | 161 | −14 | 3 | |
| 3 | Kriol Star
|
2 | 0 | 2 | 153 | 181 | −28 | 2 |
| 10 October 2024 | Al Ahli Tripoli
|
85–66 | Stade Malien
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 (GMT+2) | Scoring by quarter: 32–11, 14–21, 15–20, 24–14 | |||
| Pts: Eric 23 Rebs: Almeida 13 Asts: Almeida, Hodge 7 |
Boxscore | Pts: Coulibaly 20 Rebs: Pare 8 Asts: Keïta 8 |
Arena: Great Hall Referees: BANZA KALUME, Tonton (COD), GAGA, Didier (RWA),LAROUCI, Adlen (ALG) |
|
| 11 October 2024 | Stade Malien
|
81–76 | Kriol Star
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 (GMT+2) | Scoring by quarter: 20–20, 16–21, 24–17, 21–16 | |||
| Pts: Coulibaly, Kanoute 16 Rebs: Pare 11 Asts: Kante 5 |
Boxscore | Pts: Lahrichi, Ndizeye 14 Rebs: Brown 12 Asts: Lahrichi 7 |
Arena: Great Hall Referees: KAMATE, Hassane (CIV), BANZA KALUME, Tonton (COD), TABOUBI, Amir (TUN) |
|
| 12 October 2024 | Kriol Star
|
77–100 | Al Ahli Tripoli
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19:30 (GMT+2) | Scoring by quarter: 19–23, 19–33, 18–20, 21–24 | |||
| Pts: Stewart 16 Rebs: Ndizeye 7 Asts: Lahrichi 14 |
Boxscore | Pts: Sadi 21 Rebs: Abdoallah 10 Asts: Badrush 10 |
Arena: Great Hall Referees: BANZA KALUME, Tonton (COD) KAMATE, Hassane (CIV)
GEBETO, Walelign Fikadu (ETH) |
|
Group B
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ABC Fighters
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 281 | 216 | +65 | 6 | Advance to Elite 16 |
| 2 | Spintex Knights
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 232 | 241 | −9 | 4[a] | |
| 3 | Mighty Barrolle
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 211 | 231 | −20 | 4[a] | |
| 4 | Elan Coton
|
3 | 1 | 2 | 209 | 245 | −36 | 4[a] |
Source: FIBA
Notes:
Notes:
| 10 October 2024 | ABC Fighters
|
vs. | Mighty Barrolle
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 (GMT+2) | ||||
| 10 October 2024 | Spintex Knights
|
vs. | Elan Coton
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 (GMT+2) | ||||
| 11 October 2024 | Spintex Knights
|
vs. | ABC Fighters
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 (GMT+2) | ||||
| 11 October 2024 | Elan Coton
|
vs. | Mighty Barrolle
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 (GMT+2) | ||||
| 12 October 2024 | ABC Fighters
|
vs. | Elan Coton
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 (GMT+2) | ||||
| 12 October 2024 | Mighty Barrolle
|
vs. | Spintex Knights
|
Tripoli |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 (GMT+2) | ||||
Group C
editThe Group C games will be played in Douala, Cameroon, from 27 October to 1 November 2024.[3]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abeilles
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to Elite 16 |
| 2 |  King Africa
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | KSA (H)
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | MDA
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Chaux Sport
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
East Division
editThe East Division will be hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 15 to 20 October 2024.[21] The other group will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 22 to 27 October 2024.[21]
Group A
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GNBC
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to Elite 16 |
| 2 | Ushindzi
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Nairobi City Thunder
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Hawassa City
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Beau Vallon Heat
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Nairobi City Thunder
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 4 October 2024. Source: FIBA
Group B
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basket Hounds (H)
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to Elite 16 |
| 2 | Costa do Sol
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Matero Magic
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Brave Hearts
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Elite 16
editThe top eight teams from each division qualify for the Elite 16, in which teams in each division are split up in two groups. Here, they are joined by teams that already played in the 2024 BAL season and were national champions, as well as by the NBA Academy Africa.[2]
The West Division will be played from 5 to 10 November 2024 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.[3] The dates and venue of the East Division will be announced.
References
edit- ^ a b "Competition System - FIBA Africa Champions Clubs ROAD TO B.A.L 2025 | FIBA.basketball". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ a b c "Overview - FIBA Africa Champions Clubs ROAD TO B.A.L 2025 | FIBA.basketball". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d "FIBA Africa Champions Clubs ROAD TO B.A.L 2025 Official Website | FIBA.basketball". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "YOUZOU LIGUE PRO MASCULINE - FEDERATION BENINOISE DE BASKETBALL". FEDERATION BENINOISE DE BASKETBALL (in French). Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Championnat national de basketball : L'USFA détrône l'AOA en hommes, l'AS Douanes sacrée chez les dames". Burkina24.com - Actualité du Burkina Faso 24h/24 (in French). 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "KSA de Douala are 2024 Champions!". www.afrobasket.com. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Muhima, Georges Ben (7 September 2024). "Coupe du Congo de Basketball : Chaux Sport Brille pour Clôturer la Compétition". Kivu Morning Post (in French). Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Abidjan Basket Club clinch 2023/24 title". Afrobasket.com. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Basket-ball/ Coupe du Gabon 2024 : Moanda BB et Naba au pinacle". L'UNION | L'actualité du Gabon (in French). 3 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Spintex Knights are champions of Accra Basketball League". Ghanaweb.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Liberia: Defending Champions Mighty Barrolle Retain Crown in LBA". FrontPageAfrica. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Al-Ahly Tripoli wins Libyan Basketball League for an eighth time". Afrobasket.com. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ Olobulu, Timothy (20 July 2024). "INVINCIBLES! – Stylish Thunder strike down KPA to clinch first ever league title". Capital Sports. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Nhamurave, Samuel. "basquetebol: costa do sol sagra-se campeão 20 anos depois" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ Raherinjatovo, Donné (30 October 2023). "BASKETBALL-N1A HOMMES - La GNBC d'Analamanga sur le trône". L'Express de Madagascar (in French). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Magic wins unprecented 11th title". Times of Zambia. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "From underdogs to top dogs: Hounds' quick rise". The Sunday Mail. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "VBL – Playoffs Finals : Urunani BBC de Jean-Jacques Boissy est champion du Burundi !" (in French). 29 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ Sango, Ndjoni (3 October 2024). "RCA: le club Abeilles déclaré champion de la ligue de Bangui pour la saison 2023-2024 - Ndjoni Sango" (in French). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "City Oilers Cruise to 10th NBL title". ChimpReports. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Latest news in the run-up to the Road to BAL 2025". www.fiba.basketball. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.