Latest news with #KalahariConference
TimesLIVE
19-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
MBB attribute slow start to pressure of hosting Basketball Africa playoffs
The Basketball Africa League playoffs to be hosted in South Africa in June have put Made by Ball (MBB), the country's representatives in this week's Nile Conference qualifier in Kigali, Rwanda, under pressure, player Pieter Prinsloo admitted. MBB have suffered two opening losses in the competition and Prinsloo agreed with head coach Sam Vincent that the team were still finding each other after little preparation together. The Gauteng outfit squandered a first-half lead of 47-45 and ended up losing 103-81 to Armée Patriotique Rwandaise at the BK Arena on Sunday evening. With APR and Al Ahli Tripoli winning their first two games, MBB will have to beat Nairobi City Thunder on Tuesday and win another game or two in their last three encounters. That will increase their chances of a wild-card spot. Two of the best third-placed teams will make their way to Pretoria for the playoffs in June. The last spot is occupied by Morocco's FUS Rabat, who won two games in the Kalahari Conference with a points difference of -19. What an electrifying display of BAL action between APR and MBB 🔥. Roll back the tape with our @castlelitesa game recap to savour every game-defining play. #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 18, 2025 'There could be a lot of pressure the guys might be feeling,' Prinsloo, who scored 13 points in the APR game, said. 'We play City Thunder on Tuesday. We have got better from game one and now we have to improve and get our first victory and we can progress from there. 'We are not trying to look too far now, we need to get better day-by-day and face the mistakes we made. 'We understand the playoffs are in South Africa and it is a big thing for us to qualify. Round 2 of the Nile Conference was something else! Here are your Top 5 plays from yesterday 👊 #BAL5 — Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 19, 2025 'Our first two games, we understand the mistakes we made. In game two, there are a lot of things we did better and we see that when we play our basketball. 'APR, we were able to beat them in the first half when we played the right way, but you have to play 40 minutes of basketball to be complete.' Vincent again bemoaned his team's inability to close out games but agreed APR's experience played a key role in the second half. 'Our guys played better. This is a new team, we haven't played a lot together. 'Every time we get onto the court we want to see improvement. In the first half we played well because we focused on moving the ball. 'We swung it from side to side. We were patient with our shots. In the second half, we were not as patient.'
Ya Biladi
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
FUS Rabat falls to Rivers Hoopers in second BAL match
FUS Rabat suffered a second consecutive defeat in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Kalahari Conference, losing 88–82 to Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers on Sunday at the indoor arena of the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat. This loss follows Saturday's opening match, in which the Moroccan club was defeated 71–60 by Egypt's Al Ittihad of Alexandria. In another game on Sunday, Al Ittihad narrowly beat Stade Malien 72–69. FUS Rabat will face Stade Malien in their third game of the tournament on Tuesday. The Kalahari Conference, featuring FUS Rabat, Al Ittihad (Egypt), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), and Stade Malien, marks the opening phase of the 2025 BAL season. The competition is taking place in Rabat until April 13. It will be followed by the Sahara Conference, scheduled from April 26 to May 4 in Dakar, Senegal, and the Nile Conference, from May 17 to 25 in Kigali, Rwanda. The top eight teams across the three conferences will qualify for the playoffs, set to begin on June 6 in Pretoria, South Africa.
See - Sada Elbalad
28-02-2025
- Sport
- See - Sada Elbalad
2025 Basketball Africa League Season to Feature Record Six New Teams
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( today announced the 12 teams and game schedule ( for the opening leg of the league's milestone fifth season, which will tip off with the Kalahari Conference group phase from Saturday, April 5 – Sunday April 13 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco. The 2025 BAL season, which will feature three regular-season group phases and culminate with the playoffs and finals at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa in June, will feature a record six first-time BAL participants, including the first BAL teams from Cape Verde (Kriol Star Basketball) and Kenya (Nairobi City Thunder), as well as defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) and 2022 champion US Monastir (Tunisia). Petro de Luanda and US Monastir are the only teams to have qualified for all five BAL seasons. Below is the complete list of participating teams by conference. 1. Kalahari Conference Al Ittihad (Egypt)* Fath Union Sport (FUS; Morocco) Stade Malien (Mali) Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) 2. Sahara Conference ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal)* Kriol Star Basketball (Cape Verde)* Petro de Luanda (Angola) US Monastir (Tunisia) 3. Nile Conference Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya)* Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball (APR; Rwanda) Made by Basketball (MBB; South Africa)* Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)* Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. During group phase play, the home team in each country will play on every gameday. In the season opener, Stade Malien (Mali) will face Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) at 4:00 p.m. GMT+1. In the second game, home team Fath Union Sport (FUS; Morocco) will take on Al Ittihad (Egypt) at 7:00 p.m. GMT+1. Single-game tickets for the games in Rabat are available online at ( and the following physical locations: Megarama Cinema in Casablanca ( Megarama Cinema in Fes ( and the National Theatre in Rabat ( Fans who purchase tickets will also have free access to the BAL Fan Zone at the arena. Tickets for the games in Dakar, Senegal are also on sale now at and Eight teams from across the three conferences will travel to Pretoria for four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs and finals from Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 14. Additional information about the 2025 BAL season will be announced in the coming weeks
Zawya
16-02-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
Two-Time Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) All-Star and Basketball Analyst Chiney Ogwumike Named Basketball Africa League Ambassador
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( today named two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN analyst, Chiney Ogwumike as the First Female BAL Ambassador. The announcement was made by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall during the Africa Luncheon at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco. Ogwumike is a passionate advocate for gender equity in sports and the sustainable development of basketball. Through her work, she aims to inspire young girls and women to take charge of their future and promote inclusive opportunities for all. As a BAL Ambassador, Ogwumike will take an active role in the league's initiatives across Africa, with a focus on engaging and empowering women and girls on the continent. She will also lead various events as well as clinics throughout the season, beginning with the Kalahari Conference, which tips off on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco. Ogwumike joins several African NBA legends who are serving as BAL Ambassadors and helping to promote the league in Africa and around the world: 2011 NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks Ian Mahinmi (Benin), two-time NBA All-Star Joakim Noah (Cameroon), two-time NBA All-Star and South Sudan Basketball Federation President Luol Deng, and former NBA player and G League executive Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Ghana). 'I am grateful for this tremendous opportunity to continue to inspire, uplift, and help grow the game across the continent, especially for young women and girls,' said Ogwumike. 'Basketball has given me so much, and now, I get to give back in a way that creates real impact and celebrates my sisters on the continent. The future of basketball in Africa is limitless, and I can't wait to be part of this journey.' Ogwumike's appointment marks a significant step in elevating women's representation within the BAL and expanding the league's influence across the continent. Since its inception, the BAL has been a driving force for basketball development across the continent, providing meaningful opportunities for communities to engage with the sport. With Ogwumike's leadership and advocacy, the BAL aims to expand its reach and impact, further inspiring the next generation of players and fans across Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
