Top 10 BAL Players at the 2025 AfroBasket

Some of Africa's best players took the stage at the 2025 AfroBasket, with ten Basketball Africa League (BAL) players making a remarkable impact.

During the twelve-day AfroBasket tournament, 58 players with BAL experience showcased their talents in the quadrennial event held in Luanda and Mocamedes, Angola.

Each of the 16 national teams had at least one BAL player, with Egypt and Tunisia leading the way with eight each.

Ultimately, two-time All-BAL Defensive Team member and 2024 BAL champion Childe Dundao added to his trophy collection.

This article highlights the Top 10 BAL players at the 2025 AfroBasket tournament.

Jean-Jacques Boissy

National Team: SENEGAL
BAL experience: AS Douanes (2023, 2024); Al Ahly Tripoli (2025)
PPG: 19
RPG: 5.1
APG: 4.6
EFF: 18.3
FG: 42.6%

Jean Jacques Boissy transitioned from the 2025 BAL season to the 2025 AfroBasket, maintaining his sixth-man status and production.

In his first AfroBasket, Boissy proved his 2025 BAL MVP award was well-deserved, setting a scoring record and leaving yet another remarkable achievement in his wake.

In his first start, he scored 40 points on 15-for-27 shooting, setting an AfroBasket record for the most points scored in a game. Senegal defeated Cameroon 98-72 in the Third-Place Game. Boissy surpassed Jeff Xavier’s record of 38 points, set in the 2009 African Championship.

Aliou Fadiala Diarra

National Team: MALI
BAL experience: Stade Malien (2023); FUS Rabat (2023); APR (2025)
PPG: 15
RPG: 9.7
BPG: 2.0
EFF: 21.6
FG: 56.5%

Mali returned home with their first-ever medal from the AfroBasket tournament after losing 70-43 to Angola in the championship game.

After a slow and shaky start to the tournament, Mali improved when it mattered most, overcoming Guinea and tournament favorites Côte d'Ivoire in the quarterfinals before stunning Senegal in the semifinals.

In the process, Diarra, the two-time BAL Defensive Player of the Year, erupted with a jaw-dropping performance in the 102-96 overtime win against Côte d'Ivoire, establishing an AfroBasket record for the highest efficiency (50) in a game.

Diarra was the only player to finish the 2025 AfroBasket with four double-doubles. Diarra won the 2025 AfroBasket top rebounder award and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Mahamane Coulibaly

National Team: MALI
BAL experience: Stade Malien (2025)
PPG: 14
RPG: 3.3
APG: 2.3
EFF: 12.0
FG: 48.8%

Although Coulibaly’s Stade Malien finished the 2025 BAL season with a record of 0-6, the 24-year-old small forward impressed in the 2025 African Championship.

In his first AfroBasket, Coulibaly was a key factor for Mali.

He scored 24 points on 4-for-5 shooting from deep in the must-win quarterfinal clash against Côte d’Ivoire and was subsequently named to the All-Tournament Team.

Childe Dundao

National Team: ANGOLA
BAL experience: Petro de Luanda (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
PPG: 15.7
APG: 5.8
SPG: 2.8
EFF: 15.0
FG: 34%

Three months after Petro de Luanda finished second in the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Dundao channelled his frustration into motivation for the AfroBasket, which Angola hosted for the first time since 2007. The result was another continental trophy for Dundao and Angola.

He was the heart and soul of the 12-time champions. He led Angola on the defensive and offensive fronts.

He was eventually named the 2025 AfroBasket Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Caleb Agada

National Team: NIGERIA
BAL experience: Al Ahly Tripoli (2025)
PPG: 14.0
RPG: 3.8
SPG: 3.8
EFF: 13.8
FG: 43.4%

Fresh off winning the BAL title with Al-Ahly Tripoli, Tokyo Olympian Caleb Agada had a strong debut at the 2025 AfroBasket tournament.

He helped Nigeria achieve a perfect 3-0 record in the group phase, though the former AfroBasket champions fell short in the quarterfinals against Senegal.

Agada led all players with a tournament-high 3.8 steals per game.

Ivan Almeida

National Team: CAPE VERDE
BAL experience: Kriol Star (2025)
PPG: 12.0
RPG: 6.2
APG: 5.4
EFF: 15.6
FG: 44.4%

Ivan Almeida was one of the top performers in the 2025 BAL season. In his league debut, he helped Kriol Star reach the playoffs.

His all-around skill set was on full display at the 2025 AfroBasket, where the islanders finished second in Group A. They then defeated the reigning champions, Tunisia, in the Classification Round for the quarterfinals.

Ivan Almeida averaged the third most assists per game (5.4) as Cape Verde fell to eventual champions Angola in a highly contested quarterfinals matchup.

Nuni Omot

National Team: SOUTH SUDAN
BAL experience: Al Ahly SC (2023); APR (2025)
PPG: 17.0
RPG: 6.0
APG: 2.8
EFF: 20.0
FG: 58.8%

Omot, the 2023 BAL champion with Al Ahly SC, made his AfroBasket debut in style, leading the Bright Stars of South Sudan with 17 points per game.

His scoring prowess was on full display in South Sudan’s opening game against Guinea, in which he shot 8-for-8 from the floor and 11-for-11 from the charity stripe, though South Sudan fell short, losing 88-80.

South Sudan’s AfroBasket campaign ended in the Classification Round for the quarterfinals after a 78-65 loss to Senegal.

Ehab Amin

National Team: EGYPT
BAL experience: Al Ahly SC (2023, 2024)
PPG: 15.7
RPG: 9.3
APG: 3.7
EFF: 18.7
FG: 38.6%

Ehab Amin’s influential role in Egypt’s campaign in the Angola 2025 showpiece speaks for itself. The Al Ahly SC guard led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and efficiency.

He emerged among the top ten leading scorers in the 2025 AfroBasket, finishing as the third-highest rebounder with 9.3 boards per game.

Amin was instrumental in Egypt’s 3-0 record in the group stage. The team improved from an 11th-place finish in 2021 to sixth place in the 2025 tournament.

Solo Diabaté

National Team: COTE D’IVOIRE
BAL experience: Zamalek (2021), US Monastir (2022), Petro de Luanda (2023, 2025), Al Ahly Ly (2024)
PPG: 10.3
RPG: 4.3
APG: 4.0
EFF: 13.5
FG: 41.7%

Few players can boast eight AfroBasket appearances on their résumés. However, Solo Diabate, a two-time BAL champion, solidified his status as one of Africa’s finest at this year's African Championship.

The 38-year-old came off the bench in all four of Côte d'Ivoire’s games, contributing a team-high 2.8 steals per game and the second-highest number of assists (4.0).

Diabaté's best performance occurred in the quarterfinals against Mali, when he scored 16 points and nearly achieved a double-double with only one rebound short.

Although Côte d'Ivoire fell to Mali 102–96 in overtime, Diabaté left the court with his head held high.

Joel Almeida

National Team: CAPE VERDE
BAL experience: FAP (2022); Kriol Star (2025)
PPG: 14.0
RPG: 3.8
EFF: 13.4
FG: 45.7%

Imagine a player who scores most of his points from long range. That was Joel Almeida’s main strength at the 2025 AfroBasket.

The left-handed sharpshooter gave opponents all sorts of trouble with his shooting ability.

With Cape Verde facing foul trouble against Angola — Ivan Almeida was ejected, and Edy Tavares and Betinho Gomes fouled out — Joel Almeida, who also fouled out, became Angola’s main threat.

He shot 5-for-9, including 3-for-6 from deep. Cape Verde fell short, 90–80, against Angola in the quarterfinals, but Joel Almeida and the Blue Sharks left an impressive mark on the tournament.

*PPG (points per game); RPG (rebounds per game); APG (assists per game); BPG (blocks per game); EFF (efficiency); FG (field-goals).