Meet the teams from the 2024 Sahara Conference

The battle for the remaining three spots for the 2024 BAL playoffs gets underway at Dakar Arena, in the Senegalese capital, from Saturday, May 4 – Sunday, May 12.

By the end of the conference, the teams with the best two records will advance to Kigali, Rwanda for the playoffs whereas the team that finishes with the best third-place mark from across the Nile and Sahara Conferences will compete the eight-team playoffs field.

Find below everything you need to know about the four contenders in the Sahara Conference:

AS DOUANES (Senegal)
BAL History: Finished second in 2023. Nicknamed the “Gabelous” reached the quarterfinals in their BAL debut in 2021.
HEAD COACH: Mamadou Gueye won the 2023 BAL Coach of the Year award. In addition to his AS Douanes coaching job, Coach Pappy has served as head coach of Senegal men’s team on several occasions.
CURRENT ROSTER: Alkaly Ndour, Samba Fall, Aziz Sy, Jean Jacques Boissy, Mamadou Diop, Ibrahima Thomas, Harouna Abdoulaye, Mike Fofana, Adama Diakhite, John Akec Madut, Chris Obekpa, Michael Ochereobia and Khadim Mboup
OVERALL BAL RECORD: 6-6

ARMÉE PATRIOTIQUE RWANDAISE (APR) BASKETBALL CLUB (Rwanda)
BAL History: This is their first appearance in the league.
HEAD COACH: Mazen Trakh previously served as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.
CURRENT ROSTER: Adonis Filer, Dario Hunt, William Robeyns, Ntore Habimana, Jean Jacques Nshobozabyosumukiza, Mpoyo Axel, Obadiah Noel, Abdullah Ahmed , Larson Shema, Dan Sorozo Kimasa, Christophe Ruta, Tom Bush Wamukota, Mouhamed Camara.
OVERALL BAL RECORD: N/A

RIVERS HOOPERS (Nigeria)
BAL History: This is the Port Harcourt-based team’s second appearance in the league since their debut in 2021.
HEAD COACH: Ogoh Odaudu returns for his second BAL stint, having coached the Hoopers in the BAL’s inaugural season. A former point guard of the Nigeria men’s national team, Odaudu has had several head coaching jobs with Nigeria’s youth and senior men’s teams.

CURRENT ROSTER: Victor Anthony Koko, Onyebuchi Vincent Nwaiwu, Mustapha Oyebanji, Abel Offia, Michael Daramola, Will Perry, Johnson Anaiye, Kelvin Amayo, Peter Olisemeka, John Walter Wilkins, Devine Eke, David Ike.
OVERALL BAL RECORD: 1-2

US MONASTIR (Tunisia)
BAL History: Winners of the BAL Season 2, US Monastir have reached the semi-finals in every BAL season but the last one.
HEAD COACH: Mohamed El-Kerdandi is the first Egyptian to hold a head coach job in the history of the BAL. A former captain of the Egyptian men’s national team, El-Kendandi retired from his playing career right after the 2011 FIBA AfroBasket held in Madagascar.
CURRENT ROSTER: Mokhtar Ghayaza, Firas Lahyani, Ahmed Addami, Oussama Marnaoui, Amrou Bouallague, Lassad Chouwaya, Achraf Ganouni, Ater Majok, Chris Crawford, Yassine Marmouch, Attitebi George Williams, Sadio Doucoure, Bedoui Ahmed.
OVERALL BAL RECORD: 15-4.