April 13, 2026

Meet the Ivorian champions: the JCA Kings!

Until recently, little was known about the JCA Kings outside the borders of Côte d'Ivoire, but the newly rebranded club represents a breath of fresh air for Ivorian clubs.

Originally known as Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan, the club was rebranded as the JCA Kings in 2025, the year in which they reached the top of the Ivorian basketball league by winning their first national league title.

The current JCA Kings club was established in 2018, and its unique managerial and business-like approach is unparalleled in Côte d'Ivoire's basketball landscape.

The JCA Kings entered the Ivorian basketball scene with the sole purpose of redefining the domestic league.

*JCA Kings had an impressive qualifying campaign, finishing 7-1, only losing a game to Al Ahly Ly of Libya.*

Although formerly a youth club, there was nothing young about the JCA Kings throughout the 2026 Road to BAL qualifying campaign, where they competed like veterans and won seven out of eight games.

Before reaching the capital of Cape Verde, Praia, for the Elite 16 round of the Road to BAL, the Kings won all three of their group phase games in their hometown of Abidjan.

Once in Praia, they continued their winning streak, finishing 4–1 and securing one of the two West Division Elite 16 tickets for the 2026 BAL season.

As Côte d'Ivoire's new flag bearers in the BAL, the Kings have joined the elite of African basketball and intend to demonstrate that humble beginnings can be a powerful asset.

JCA are the second Ivorian team since the ABC Fighters to compete in the BAL, and their ability to write their own history on their own terms makes this team, which combines local and foreign players, one to watch.

Having defined their purpose as providing opportunities for young people, the JCA Kings have remained loyal to their local players, and the BAL could not have come at a better time for them to showcase their full potential.

The JCA Kings are one of three teams from the Sahara Conference to appear in the league for the first time in 2026, alongside Club Africain of Tunisia and Nigeria's Maktown Flyers.

Head Coach:

*Stephane Konate #15 of ABC Fighters celebrates during the game against the US Monastir on March 17, 2023, at the Dakar Arena.*

Stephane Konate, the team's head coach, won the 2005 FIBA Africa Champions title with the Ivorian side ABC, while also winning MVP honours. He led the team throughout the entire qualifying campaign.

Having featured for the ABC Fighters in the 2024 BAL season, Konate will become the first former BAL player to coach a team in the league.

Players:

*Mahamane Coulibaly #23 of Stade Malien handles the ball during the game against the Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club on April 5, 2025, Rabat, Morocco.*

Mohamed Krah, Mahamane Coulibaly, Jonathan Cissé and Mike Yayo all played a crucial role in helping the JCA Kings secure their first-ever appearance in the BAL.

As of 13 April 2026, however, the JCA Kings have not yet publicly announced their new signings.