Meet the new recruits for the 2025 BAL Finals!

If you're wondering how seriously the teams are taking the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Finals, look no further than their adjusted rosters.

With former BAL MVPs, players who have made their mark on the league, and newcomers, the BAL Playoffs, which will take place in Pretoria, South Africa, from June 6 to 14, will feature plenty of top-class performers.

This article will introduce you to the new additions to the 2025 BAL Finals.

Jo Lual Acuil (Al Ittihad/Egypt)

After leading Libya’s Al Ahly to second place in the 2024 BAL season, South Sudanese player Acuil has returned to the league.

The 7-foot center has joined Al Ahli Tripoli, which dominated the 2025 Kalahari Conference with a perfect 6-0 record.

Omar Abada (FUS Rabat/Morocco)

Last week, Omar Abada helped Club Africain win the 2025 Tunisian League title. Now, he is returning to the BAL for the third time in his career.

Abada, a point guard who was named to the 2021 BAL All-Star team, is a massive addition to the Moroccan champions, who secured the last qualifying spot for this season’s playoffs.

Samkelo Cele (Petro de Luanda/Angola)

Last season, South African guard Samkelo Cele made headlines in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for playing a key role in helping the Cape Town Tigers reach the semifinals for the first time in the club's history.

He made his biggest impact in the 2024 quarterfinals against FUS Rabat, hitting a buzzer-beating three-pointer to tie the game at 83-83 before the Tigers prevailed 91-88 in overtime.

Kendrick Ray (Petro de Luanda/Angola)

After experiencing ups and downs in the 2025 Sahara Conference, the reigning BAL champions, Petro de Luanda, signed American point guard Kendrick Ray.

The 31-year-old has spent most of his professional career playing in Europe. He featured in the 2018–19 EuroLeague season with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Nuni Omot (APR/Rwanda)

The South Sudanese small forward needs no introduction to the BAL audience.

Omot played a pivotal role in helping the Egyptian giants Al Ahli SC win the 2023 BAL title and take home the MVP award.

Fabian White Jr (Al Ahli Tripoli/Libya)

With Deon Thompson no longer in Al Ahli Tripoli’s plans, the Libyan champions signed American Fabian White Jr. to replace him for the BAL playoffs.

Ahmed Doumbia (Rivers Hoopers/Nigeria)

Doumbia, a key member of the Guinean national team, has joined the Nigerian champions, who finished second in the Kalahari Conference, for the remainder of the 2025 BAL season.

Jalan Mc Cloud (Kriol Star/Cape Verde)

Like most of the eight teams heading to the BAL playoffs, Kriol Star hit the market and signed American point guard Jalan McCloud.