The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has announced that 156 players representing a record 28 countries will compete in the league’s historic fifth season, Sports247 reports.
The season tips off with the opening game between 2023 third-place finishers Stade Malien (Mali) and the 2024 third-place finishers Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) on Saturday, April 5, in Rabat, Morocco.
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Later that day, home team Fath Union Sport (FUS) of Morocco will take on first-time BAL participants Al Ittihad from Egypt.
The BAL will honor the legacy of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo throughout the season. In tribute, all player jerseys and selected warm-up gear will feature a “DM55” patch.
Additionally, moments of silence will be observed ahead of each conference group phase.
The late Hall of Famer and four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year served as the NBA’s first global ambassador following his retirement in 2009.
Competition Format
Each of the league’s three four-team conferences will play a 12-game group phase, with every team facing its conference opponents twice.
During the group phase, the home team will play on each game day in their respective conferences.
The Kalahari Conference will hold from April 5 to 13 in Rabat, Morocco, while the Sahara Conference will take place from April 26–May 4 at Dakar Arena, Senegal and the Nile Conference will tips off on May 17–25 at BK Arena, Kigali, Rwanda
Eight teams advancing from the group phases will compete in Pretoria, South Africa, beginning June 6.
The final stage will include four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination playoff and championship, concluding on June 14.
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