May 27, 2022

Who are the African champions chasing the 2022 BAL title?

By the final buzzer of the 2022 Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Saturday, May 28, a number of players will add more silverware to their trophy cabinet.

Among them is a former player turned assistant coach who helped his country to their first-ever African title.

This list of the 2022 BAL trophy chasers focuses on the major club and national teams competitions held over the past eleven years.

Souleyman Diabate – the Ivorian international player is the only player in the current season who can become a two-time BAL champion.

The 34-year-old point guard was instrumental in helping Zamalek clinch the inaugural BAL title last year.

KIGALI, RWANDA - MAY 25: Mouloukou Souleyman Diabate #10 of the Union Sportive Monastirienne celebrates during the game against the Zamalek on May 25, 2022 at the Kigali Arena. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Pape Emir/NBAE via Getty Images)

Now, suiting up for US Monastir, Diabate, who spent most of his career in France’s top divisions, can enrich his trophy cabinet with his second African title, something he hasn’t achieved with his Cote d’Ivoire national team.

Radhouane Slimane - A two-time BAL participant, the 6-foot-8 forward has made it clear that winning this year’s BAL isn’t just a personal goal. It’s a must-do task to compensate last year’s painful loss to Zamalek in the BAL Final.

A household name on the continent, Slimane has decorated his career with three FIBA AfroBasket titles (2011, 2017 and 2021).

2011 was a memorable year for Slimane who, four months after the AfroBasket title, won the FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Rabat, Morocco, while playing for Etoile Sportive du Sahel.

KIGALI, RWANDA - MAY 30: Omar Hesham #15 of Zamalek defends against Radhouane Slimane #15 of Union Sportive Monastirienne during the first half of the Basketball Africa League finals game at Kigali Arena on May 30, 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo by Nicole Sweet/BAL/Basketball Africa League via Getty Images)

If Monastir win the BAL title on Saturday, he will become one of the most decorated African players of the last decade.

Mokhtar Ghayaza – Just like Slimane, this 6-foot-9 power forward is a three-time AfroBasket with his native Tunisia.

He was a member of all Tunisian squads that won the African titles in 2011, 2017 and 2021.

The 2022 BAL title could be his fourth major continental title.

Marouan Kechrid was pivotal in helping Tunisia lift the 2011 African Championship title in Madagascar.

Marouan Kechrid, Burkina Faso v Tunisia, Day 4 of the 2013 FIBA Africa Championship in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, 23 August, Preliminary Round

The former point guard, who is currently serving as assistant coach to US Monastir, featured at the 2012 London Olympics, where he had the chance of facing the likes of Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant.

One of Tunisia’s top prospects over the past few years, Oussama Marnaoui has represented his country since the U16 national teams.

Last year, he lifted his first major continental trophy when Tunisia clinched their third FIBA AfroBasket title in Kigali.

Known in Tunisia and African basketball circles as “Air Tunisia” due to his impressive athleticism, Firas Lahiani is a 2017 FIBA AfroBasket champion.

Petro de Luanda count four continental Champions in their roster.

CAIRO, EGYPT - APRIL 16: Childe Madaleno Fortuna Dundão #5 of the Clube Atlético Petroleos de Luanda dribbles the ball during the game against the Forces Armeés et Police Basketball on April 16, 2022 at the Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Pape Emir/NBAE via Getty Images)

Petro’s Childe Dundão keeps brilliant memories of Kigali.

It was in the Rwandan capital that the 24-year-old helped Angola to the 2016 FIBA U18 Africa Championship title, which was his country’s last in that age group.

Carlos Morais and Olimpio Cipriano have won four FIBA AfroBasket titles (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2013) each.

Although his Petro de Luanda finished second in the 2012 FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Morais scooped the MVP award.

Leonel Paulo is a two-time AfroBasket winner (2009 and 2013).Along with Gerson Domingos, Paulo has helped Petro de Luanda to the 2015 FIBA Africa Champions Cup.