The Basketball Africa League (BAL) announced the 12 teams and game schedule for its 2022 season, set to tip off on March 5, 2022, at the Dakar Arena in Dakar, Senegal. The season, spanning three cities—Dakar, Cairo, and Kigali—will feature 38 games over three months, culminating in the playoffs and finals from May 21-28, 2022. Below is a detailed overview of the teams, schedule, and key details for the 2022 BAL season.
Teams Competing in the 2022 BAL Season
The 2022 BAL season includes 12 club teams from 12 African countries, divided into two conferences: the Sahara Conference and the Nile Conference. The teams are:
- Sahara Conference:
- AS Salé (Morocco)
- Dakar Université Club (DUC) (Senegal)
- Seydou Legacy Athlétique Club (S.L.A.C) (Guinea)
- REG (Rwanda Energy Group) (Rwanda)
- BC Espoir Fukash (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Ferroviário da Beira (CFV – Beira) (Mozambique)
- Nile Conference:
- Zamalek (Egypt, defending 2021 BAL Champion)
- Petro de Luanda (Angola)
- US Monastir (Tunisia)
- Forces Armées et Police (F.A.P.) (Cameroon)
- Cape Town Tigers (South Africa)
- Cobra Sport (South Sudan)
Qualification: Six teams (from Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia) earned their spots by winning their respective national leagues. The remaining six (from Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Mozambique, South Africa, and South Sudan) qualified through the Road to BAL tournaments held by FIBA Regional Office Africa from October to December 2021. Notably, seven teams are new to the BAL, and four countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, South Africa, and South Sudan) are represented for the first time.
Game Schedule and Format
- Season Opener: The 2022 BAL season kicks off on March 5 at 5:30 p.m. GMT with Dakar Université Club (DUC) facing Seydou Legacy Athlétique Club (S.L.A.C) at the Dakar Arena in Dakar, Senegal.
- Group Phase:
- Sahara Conference: March 5-15, 2022, at Dakar Arena, Dakar, Senegal (15 games).
- Nile Conference: April 9-19, 2022, at Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex, Cairo, Egypt (15 games).
- Each conference features a 15-game group phase, with each team playing the other five teams in its conference once.
- Playoffs and Finals: May 21-28, 2022, at Kigali Arena, Kigali, Rwanda. The top four teams from each conference advance to a single-elimination tournament, culminating in the BAL Finals on May 28.
Key Dates:
- March 5, 2022: Season opener (DUC vs. S.L.A.C, 5:30 p.m. GMT, Dakar Arena).
- March 5-15, 2022: Sahara Conference group phase in Dakar.
- April 9-19, 2022: Nile Conference group phase in Cairo.
- May 21-28, 2022: Playoffs and Finals in Kigali, with quarterfinals starting May 21 (e.g., Petro de Luanda vs. AS Salé at 2:30 p.m. CAT, REG vs. F.A.P. at 6:00 p.m. CAT).
Additional Highlights
- Returning Teams: Five teams from the 2021 inaugural season return, including defending champions Zamalek (Egypt), alongside AS Salé (Morocco), Petro de Luanda (Angola), US Monastir (Tunisia), and F.A.P. (Cameroon).
- New Teams and Countries: The inclusion of BC Espoir Fukash, Cape Town Tigers, Cobra Sport, CFV – Beira, DUC, REG, and S.L.A.C introduces fresh competition, with four countries making their BAL debut.
- Global Reach: The 2022 BAL season will be broadcast in over 200 countries and territories, building on the inaugural season’s reach of 215 countries in 15 languages. The league is supported by foundational partners like New Fortress Energy, Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, and Wilson, alongside marketing partners Flutterwave and Hennessy.
- Notable Performances: The 2022 season features standout players like Ater James Majok (US Monastir), who led in rebounding, and Adonis Filer (REG), who set a BAL record with 16 assists in a single game.
Leadership Perspectives
BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall expressed enthusiasm for the season, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome seven new teams and four new countries into the second season of the BAL. The competition is heating up, and we’re excited for fans to experience it live in three world-class African cities.” FIBA Africa and BAL Board President Anibal Manave added, “The Road to BAL 2022 provided exciting action, and we’re optimistic this expanded season will be a huge success.”
Context and Significance
The 2022 BAL season builds on the success of the inaugural 2021 season, where Zamalek defeated US Monastir 76-63 to claim the title in Kigali. The expansion to 38 games across three cities (Dakar, Cairo, and Kigali) marks a significant growth from the 26-game, single-venue format in 2021, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The BAL, a partnership between FIBA and the NBA, continues to elevate African basketball, showcasing talent and fostering development across the continent.
For further details, fans can visit BAL.NBA.com to register for ticket information and updates.
