In a groundbreaking move signaling its continued growth and pan-African ambitions, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) announced on Thursday that South Africa will host the 2025 playoffs and finals. This marks the first time the marquee tournament rounds will be held outside of Rwanda since the league’s inception in 2021. The BAL also revealed that Morocco will join as a new host nation, with games in its capital Rabat tipping off the expanded 2025 season.
Charting a Bold New Course
The selection of South Africa’s Pretoria as the host city for the 2025 playoffs and finals signals a major shift for the fledgling BAL. After being hosted entirely in a bubble environment in Kigali in its inaugural 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has gradually expanded its footprint to other African nations. Egypt’s Cairo and Senegal’s Dakar joined Rwanda as additional host cities in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, games were held in South Africa for the first time, though Rwanda still hosted the playoffs and finals.
But with South Africa now taking over as the ultimate host in 2025 and Morocco getting in on the action as well, the BAL appears determined to live up to its name by extending its reach across the length and breadth of the continent. As BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall explained:
Our fourth season was really a banner year… We set attendance records with over 120,000 fans attending games across four countries.
Amadou Gallo Fall, BAL President
South Africa Steps Up
South Africa’s selection as finals host is a major coup for the nation and its basketball community. While the country has a strong sporting tradition, particularly in rugby and soccer, basketball has historically struggled to gain a foothold. But that appears to be changing, with the BAL’s expansion into South Africa in 2024 drawing enthusiastic crowds and raising the sport’s profile.
Hosting the 2025 playoffs and finals at the state-of-the-art Sunbet Arena in Pretoria will provide an even bigger stage to showcase South African basketball talent and fan passion. It’s also expected to provide a significant tourism and economic boost for the city and surrounding region.
Morocco Makes Its Mark
Not to be outdone, Morocco will also play a major role in the 2025 BAL season. Games will tip off in the capital city of Rabat from April 5-13, marking the first time the North African nation has hosted BAL action. Morocco’s basketball pedigree is already well-established, with several of its clubs routinely qualifying for the African Basketball Champions League, which the BAL partially replaced and now serves as a qualifying tournament for.
Adding Morocco as the fifth BAL host nation continues the league’s rapid expansion. After holding its inaugural 2021 season entirely in Rwanda due to pandemic necessities, the BAL has quickly grown to encompass North, West, East and now Southern Africa in just five years. And according to sources close to the league, there are already discussions about adding a sixth host country, potentially in Central Africa, as early as 2026.
An All-Star Lineup
Beyond the new host cities, the BAL also confirmed the 12 teams that will compete in the 2025 season. As in previous years, national champions from several of Africa’s top domestic leagues receive automatic berths, including:
- Al Ittihad – Egypt
- Petro de Luanda – Angola
- ASC Ville de Dakar – Senegal
- Rivers Hoopers – Nigeria
- US Monastir – Tunisia
- APR – Rwanda
- FUS Rabat – Morocco
Additionally, Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya and Mali’s Stade Malien earned their spots through the qualifying “Road to BAL” tournament. The final three entries will be determined in a later qualifying round.
This mix of established powers and up-and-coming contenders from across Africa promises an exciting and competitive brand of basketball. Reigning BAL champions Petro de Luanda of Angola will look to defend their title, but are sure to face stiff challenges from traditional heavyweights like the Egyptian and Tunisian reps, as well as other hungry upstarts.
Elevating African Basketball
Ultimately, the BAL’s ambitious plans for an expanded 2025 footprint reflect both the progress it’s already made and the immense potential league officials still see for growth. By making inroads into two new major African markets in South Africa and Morocco, while continuing to develop its product in Egypt, Senegal, and Rwanda, the BAL seems positioned to build something truly impactful and sustainable.
As more African fans are exposed to the spectacle and drama of professional hoops at its highest level, and more top African talents view the BAL as a viable career path, the sky appears to be the limit. If Year 5 is any indication, this bold pan-African vision for the sport has only just begun to take shape.
Hosting the 2025 playoffs and finals at the state-of-the-art Sunbet Arena in Pretoria will provide an even bigger stage to showcase South African basketball talent and fan passion. It’s also expected to provide a significant tourism and economic boost for the city and surrounding region.
Morocco Makes Its Mark
Not to be outdone, Morocco will also play a major role in the 2025 BAL season. Games will tip off in the capital city of Rabat from April 5-13, marking the first time the North African nation has hosted BAL action. Morocco’s basketball pedigree is already well-established, with several of its clubs routinely qualifying for the African Basketball Champions League, which the BAL partially replaced and now serves as a qualifying tournament for.
Adding Morocco as the fifth BAL host nation continues the league’s rapid expansion. After holding its inaugural 2021 season entirely in Rwanda due to pandemic necessities, the BAL has quickly grown to encompass North, West, East and now Southern Africa in just five years. And according to sources close to the league, there are already discussions about adding a sixth host country, potentially in Central Africa, as early as 2026.
An All-Star Lineup
Beyond the new host cities, the BAL also confirmed the 12 teams that will compete in the 2025 season. As in previous years, national champions from several of Africa’s top domestic leagues receive automatic berths, including:
- Al Ittihad – Egypt
- Petro de Luanda – Angola
- ASC Ville de Dakar – Senegal
- Rivers Hoopers – Nigeria
- US Monastir – Tunisia
- APR – Rwanda
- FUS Rabat – Morocco
Additionally, Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya and Mali’s Stade Malien earned their spots through the qualifying “Road to BAL” tournament. The final three entries will be determined in a later qualifying round.
This mix of established powers and up-and-coming contenders from across Africa promises an exciting and competitive brand of basketball. Reigning BAL champions Petro de Luanda of Angola will look to defend their title, but are sure to face stiff challenges from traditional heavyweights like the Egyptian and Tunisian reps, as well as other hungry upstarts.
Elevating African Basketball
Ultimately, the BAL’s ambitious plans for an expanded 2025 footprint reflect both the progress it’s already made and the immense potential league officials still see for growth. By making inroads into two new major African markets in South Africa and Morocco, while continuing to develop its product in Egypt, Senegal, and Rwanda, the BAL seems positioned to build something truly impactful and sustainable.
As more African fans are exposed to the spectacle and drama of professional hoops at its highest level, and more top African talents view the BAL as a viable career path, the sky appears to be the limit. If Year 5 is any indication, this bold pan-African vision for the sport has only just begun to take shape.
