June 2, 2025

Introducing the teams in the 2025 BAL Playoffs!

The three 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) conferences are now behind us.

As we shift our focus to the highly anticipated BAL Playoffs, let's take an in-depth look at the eight teams set to compete for the 2025 BAL title.

These teams hail from eight different African countries. Some are new to the league, while others have never missed a BAL edition.

However, only two of these teams have ever lifted the league’s trophy.

Al Ahli Tripoli – LIBYA

*Mohamed Sadi #13 of Al Ahli Tripoli celebrates during the game against APR during the Nile Conference Group on May 24, 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.*

Al Ahli Tripoli is the second most successful team in the Libyan Basketball League with eight titles.

The second Libyan team to participate in the BAL, after 2024 BAL runners-up Al Ahly Ly, Al Ahli Tripoli won the last four domestic league titles.

They closed their 2025 Road to BAL qualifying campaign undefeated in seven games.

The BAL debutants Al Ahli Tripoli won the 2025 BAL Nile Conference with a perfect 6-0 mark.

Key Players: One of the strongest points of the Libyan champions lies in their deep rotation, where the difference in productivity between starters and reserves is almost unnoticeable.

Jean Jacques Boissy came off the bench in all six games and averaged a regular season-high of 23.8 points per game. Other influential players include team captain Mohamed Sadi; shooting guard Nasseim Badrush; point guard Jaylen Adams; and Assem Marei, a late addition.

Head Coach: In recent times, Lebanese Fouad Abou Chacra has been at the forefront of Libyan basketball.

*Head Coach Abou Chacra Fouad of Al Ahli Tripoli looks on during the game against Nairobi City Thunder during the Nile Conference group play on May 20, 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.*

The Lebanese tactician is currently at the helm of Libyan men’s national team. Earlier this year, Coach Chacra helped Libya qualify for their first AfroBasket in 16 years.

Al Ahli Tripoli's coaching staff includes Amine Rzig, former captain of the Tunisian national team, who helped his country win the 2011 AfroBasket title in Madagascar.

BAL overall record: 6-0.

Armée Patriotique Rwandaise (APR) – RWANDA

*APR celebrate their first qualification for a BAL Playoffs round.*

The club was founded by the Rwandan Patriotic Front and is currently owned by the Ministry of Defense.

Total league titles: 15 Rwandan National Championships, including the last two in 2023 and 2024.

The Lions, as APR is colloquially known, qualified for the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season by winning their domestic league in 2024.

They qualified for the 2025 BAL playoffs after finishing second in the Nile Conference with a 3–3 record.

Key Players: Aliou Diarra of Mali, Chasson Randle, and Youssoupha Ndoye played a huge role in helping the Lions qualify for their first BAL playoffs. However, the addition of 2023 BAL MVP Nuni Omot has given APR another dimension.

Head Coach: James Maye Jr.'s résumé includes an assistant coaching position with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League, an affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks.

*James Maye Jr. and Obadiah Noel #1 of Armee Patriotique talk during the game against Armee against MBB during the Nile Conference Group on May 18, 2025, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.*

As a player, Maye Jr. made his mark on African basketball with the Libyan team Al Shabab.

The American helped them finish sixth in the 2008 FIBA Africa Champions Cup, the predecessor to the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which was held in Sousse, Tunisia. Maye Jr. led Al Shabab in scoring with 21.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
Primeiro de Agosto won the 2008 tournament.

BAL overall record: 5-7.

Kriol Star – CAPE VERDE

*Anderson Correia #12 of Kriol Star Basketball celebrates after the game against Petro de Luanda during the Sahara Conference Group on May 4, 2025, at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

The first Cape Verdean team to qualify for the BAL was founded in 2015 by brothers Joel and Ivan Almeida, both of whom are on the team's roster.

The club began as a community before evolving into the organization it is today in 2024.

Kriol Star fell short in the first round of the Road to BAL qualifiers in Tripoli, Libya.

However, they benefited from an FIBA Africa wildcard to compete in the Elite 16 round of qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya. There, they turned their fortunes around by beating Braveheart (Malawi) and MBB (South Africa) in the group stage.

They stunned favorites Urunani 90–82, securing their spot in the 2025 BAL season.

Key Players: Ivan Almeida was a key player for the Creoles. He registered four double-doubles in six games and averaged 17 points per game.

Head Coach: Hugo Salgado grew up playing basketball at Vasco da Gama, one of Portugal's most popular basketball academies.

Last year, the Portuguese coach accepted the coaching job at Kriol Star in the run-up to the Road to BAL qualifiers.

BAL overall record: 3-3.

US Monastir – TUNISIA

*US Monastir huddles during the game against Petro de Luanda during the Sahara Conference Group on April 27, 2025, at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

When it comes to talking about the most dominant team in the Tunisian Pro A league over the past decade, there is no one like Union Sportive Monastirienne, also known as US Monastir.

US Monastir, a team that has never missed a BAL season, were lifted the league’s title in 2022.

Key Players: Patrick Hardy Jr., who averaged a team-high 17.5 points per game, Firas Lahyani, who contributed nine points and nine rebounds per game, were instrumental in US Monastir’s 2025 Sahara Conference title.

Head Coach: Portuguese Vasco Curado was first introduced to African basketball in December 2015 when he served as an assistant coach for the Tunisian team Club Africain under Mario Palma. The historic club won the Tunisian league title in the 2015–16 season.

After being promoted to head coach, Curado led Club Africain to the 2016 FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Cairo.

In 2017, Curado and Palma — the most successful coach in Africa with five AfroBasket titles — reunited to lead the Tunisia men’s national team. However, a few months later, Curado left for another head coaching position, while Palma led Tunisia to the 2017 AfroBasket title.

Last week, under Curado's leadership, US Monastir won the 2025 Tunisian Cup title.

BAL overall record: 23-10.

Petro de Luanda – ANGOLA

*Aboubacar Gakou #15 of Petro de Luanda celebrates during the game against Kriol Star Basketball during the Sahara Conference Group on May 4, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

One week before the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs, Petro de Luanda solidified their reign over Angolan basketball by defeating their arch-rivals, Primeiro de Agosto, in game five of the best-of-seven finals series.

This marked Petro de Luanda’s sixth consecutive Angola League title, establishing them as the most dominant team in the country over the last decade.

Petro de Luanda has played in every BAL season and reached the semifinals four consecutive times. They have played more BAL games (36) than any other team.

Before winning the 2024 BAL title, they won the FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2006 and in Luanda, Angola, in 2015.

Key Players: Rigoberto Mendoza, Patrick Gardner and Yanick were Petro de Luanda’s most efficient players in the 2025 Sahara Conference, in which they finished second with a record of 3–3.

Head Coach Sergio Valdomillos Moreno of Petro de Luanda talks to Rigoberto Mendoza #12 during the game against Kriol Star Basketball during the Sahara Conference Group on May 4, 2025, at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.

Head Coach: Spaniard Sergio Valdomillos joined Petro de Luanda immediately after the Angolan champions finished 2-2 in the 2024 Kalahari Conference. Petro de Luanda won the 2024 BAL title with a 3-1 record under Valdomillos, who coached Mexico men's national team at some point in his career.

BAL overall record: 25-11.

Al Ittihad Alexandria - EGYPT

*The Al Ittihad Alexandria huddle during the game against the Fath Union Sports de Rabat on April 5, 2025, Rabat, Morocco.*

Al Ittihad Alexandria, once a winner of the FIBA Africa Champions Cup (1987), made their debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in April. They won the 2025 Kalahari Conference in Rabat, Morocco, finishing with a perfect 6-0 record.

Prior to the 2025 BAL season, Al Ittihad—who finished fourth in the 2012 FIBA Africa Champions Cup—has won 15 Egypt Super League titles.

Key Players: Kyle Vinales, George King, Anas Mahmoud, and Majok Deng - the sixth man who led the team in scoring in Rabat with 14 points per game - were pivotal for the Egyptian champions in the regular season.

*Kyle Vinales #11 of Al Ittihad Alexandria drives to the basket during the game against the Stade Malien on April 5, 2025, Rabat, Morocco.*

In addition to their productive bench, Al Ittihad added Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. to their roster for the playoffs. Acuil was named the 2024 BAL MVP.

Head Coach: Ahmed Soliman, 58, a 1988 Seoul Olympian with Egypt, returned to his beloved Al Ittihad last year after two decades as a coach in the United Arab Emirates to lead them to the 2024 Egypt Super League title.

BAL overall record: 6-0.

FUS Rabat – MOROCCO

*Johnathan Jordan #1 of the of the Fath Union Sports de Rabat handles the ball during the game against the Al Ittihad Alexandria on April 5, 2025, Rabat, Morocco.*

A dominant force in Moroccan basketball, FUS Rabat has won 18 league titles. They made their BAL debut in Pretoria with a statement, winning the 2024 BAL Kalahari Conference with a 3-1 record, ahead of the eventual champions, Petro de Luanda.

FUS Rabat won two of their four regular season games to finish third in the Kalahari Conference, which was held on their home court.

The Moroccan giants only secured their playoff berth on the last day of the regular season, thanks to their higher point differential over South Africa’s MBB, who had a similar 2–4 record.

Key Players: American point guard Jonathan Jordan and Moroccan international Abdelhakim Zouita played fundamental roles throughout the Kalahari Conference and remain pillars of the team.

Head Coach: Said El Bouzidi led his home country of Morocco to a fourth-place finish at the 2017 FIBA AfroBasket tournament. This was Morocco's best result in the competition in two decades.

He also led AS Sale to the 2017 FIBA Africa Champions title in Tunisia.

BAL overall record: 6-6.

Rivers Hoopers - NIGERIA

*Head Coach Ogoh Odaudu of Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club talks to team during the game against FUS de Rabat on April 6, 2025, Rabat, Morocco.*

The Rivers Hoopers were one of the twelve teams in the inaugural BAL season in 2021, finishing with a record of 1–2.

The Port Harcourt-based team was founded in 2025 and has won five national league titles in 2011, 2012, 2019, 2023, and 2024.

They are known as the King's Men.

Key Players: Madut Akec, Peter Olisemeka, Kelvin Amayo, and Raphael Putney were pillars of the team in the Kalahari Conference.

Head Coach: Rivers Hoopers boss Ogoh Odaudu is a former player for the Nigerian national team.

The 43-year-old former point guard is in his third Basketball Africa League (BAL) season. He coached the Hoopers in the inaugural BAL season and led them to a Third Place finish last season.

Odaudu won the 2024 BAL Coach of the Year award.

BAL overall record: 11-8.