The Basketball Africa League is gearing up for its sixth season, with organisers confirming the 12 teams and full group phase schedule for 2026. The action begins on March 27 at SunBet Arena in Pretoria. This marks a major moment for South African basketball fans.
Pretoria Hosts Opening Games
The 2026 season will open in Pretoria, where the Kalahari Conference group phase will run from March 27 to April 5. A total of 42 games will be played across three host cities. This will showcase the best club teams from across the continent.
The Sahara Conference will follow in Rabat, Morocco from April 24 to May 3. Before the playoffs and finals take place in Kigali, Rwanda from May 22 to May 31.
New Teams Signal Growth Across Africa
This year’s competition features a mix of established champions and exciting newcomers. Five teams will make their BAL debut, including South Africa’s own Johannesburg Giants. The other debuting teams are Dar City from Tanzania, JCA Kings from Côte d’Ivoire, Maktown Flyers from Nigeria and Club Africain from Tunisia.
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The inclusion of Dar City marks the first time Tanzania will be represented in the league. This highlights the BAL’s expanding footprint across Africa.
Defending champions Petro de Luanda return as the only team to have qualified for all six seasons. Meanwhile, 2023 champions Al Ahly also feature in a stacked lineup.
Full List of Teams
The 12 teams are split across two conferences:
Kalahari Conference
- Johannesburg Giants (South Africa)
- Al Ahly Ly (Libya)
- APR (Rwanda)
- Dar City (Tanzania)
- Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola)
Sahara Conference
- FUS Rabat (Morocco)
- Al Ahly (Egypt)
- ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal)
- Club Africain (Tunisia)
- JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Maktown Flyers (Nigeria)
What to Expect From the Format
Each conference will play a 15-game group phase, with every team facing the other five teams once. The top eight teams across both conferences will advance to the playoffs in Kigali.
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The opening day in Pretoria will see APR take on Al Ahly Ly. This will be followed by a highly anticipated clash between the Johannesburg Giants and Dar City. Tickets for the Pretoria leg are already available via Ticketmaster, with fans also gaining access to the BAL Fan Zone at each arena. Tickets for the Rabat and Kigali stages will be released soon. Registration is now open online.
A League on the Rise
BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall says the addition of new teams reflects the league’s rapid growth. It also shows the rising level of basketball talent across Africa.
With more countries represented than ever before and South Africa hosting the tip-off, the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet.
