May 2, 2025

What makes the Sahara Conference so competitive?

Over the years, the Sahara Conference has seen some of the biggest battles in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and this year is no different.

Unlike last month's Kalahari Conference in Rabat, where Egypt's Al Ittihad clinched their place in the post-season in the first three games, things in Dakar will go down to the wire to determine who goes to Pretoria, South Africa in June.

Held in Dakar since the BAL introduced the conference system, no Senegalese has ever won the Sahara Conference.

Home teams Dakar Universite Club (DUC) and AS Douanes came and competed to the best of their abilities, but winning the conference title remains elusive for Senegalese representatives. It's always teams from other parts of the continent that take the bragging rights of the Sahara Conference.

Can ASC Ville de Dakar rewrite the history of the conference for the local teams? The next two days will show.

*Will Perry #12 of ASC Ville de Dakar handles the ball during the game against U.S. Monastir during the Sahara Conference Group on April 24, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

So, what makes the Sahara Conference so competitive?

Unpredictability, desperation to make the postseason and a parade of some of the best players in the competition have contributed to the Sahara Conference's competitiveness.

Who doesn't remember the outcome of the six-team 2023 Sahara Conference, where five teams (Stade Malien, AS Douanes, Rwanda Energy Group - REG, ABC Fighters and US Monastir) all finished with 3-2 records, but it was the difference in points that ultimately determined the four playoff teams?

And which team was eliminated? None other than the reigning champions, US Monastir, who had a lower point differential (-7) than the other four teams.

*Cleveland Thomas #5 of the Rwanda Energy Group handles the ball during the game against the Dakar Université Club on March 11, 2022 at the Dakar Arena.*

Or even the 2022 Sahara Conference, where heavily favored US Monastir arrived in Dakar but were left speechless after a 77-74 loss to eventual conference champion REG?

How about last year's dramatic 56-54 buzzer-beating win by AS Douanes over Rivers Hoopers that sent the fans at the Dakar Arena into a frenzy?

Well, with four games left, it's anyone's game in the 2025 Sahara Conference, meaning the top two finishers may not be known until the final game on Sunday, May 4.

How did we get here?

*Patrick McGlynn IV #4 of Kriol Star Basketball handles the ball during the game against ASC Ville de Dakar during the Sahara Conference Group on May 1, 2025 at Dakar Arena in Diamniadio, Senegal.*

Here are some of the highlights that have made the 2025 Sahara Conference what it is so far:

Debutants Ville de Dakar lose twice to fellow debutants Kriol Star, but they are the only team in BAL history to beat two BAL champions in the same season.

The Sahara Conference never ceases to provide dramatic basketball moments and there are still four games to be played over the weekend. These games will determine the conference's two automatic bids to the 2025 BAL postseason.