BAL 2026: Rabat to Serve as Primary Host for Sahara Conference Group Phase

Rabat — The Basketball Africa League (BAL) returns to the Moroccan capital this month, with Rabat hosting the Sahara Conference group phase from April 24 to May 3, 2026.

The Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex will host the conference, bringing together six of Africa’s elite basketball clubs for 15 games. 

Following the conclusion of the Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, South Africa, the focus shifts to Morocco for this year’s tournament featuring a refined format of two conferences with six teams each, the top four teams from the Sahara Conference will secure their tickets to the BAL Playoffs and Finals, held at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 22 to 31.

The reigning Moroccan champions, Fath Union Sport (FUS Rabat), are the sole representatives of the Kingdom for this edition entering the competition with high ambitions after a dominant domestic season.

 

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The competition is widely considered a “group of death,” featuring a mix of seasoned champions and ambitious newcomers. The six clubs competing in the 2026 BAL Sahara Conference in Rabat are FUS Rabat (Morocco), Al Ahly (Egypt), Club Africain (Tunisia), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), Maktown Flyers (Nigeria), and JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire).

In an official statement, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall welcomed the five new teams to the league, calling it a powerful sign of the league’s continued growth and the impact it is having on the African basketball ecosystem and the incredible talent developing across the continent.

“We look forward to engaging our passionate fans in South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda, as well as those watching across Africa and around the world, as we continue to establish the BAL as the continent’s preeminent sport and entertainment property,” he said.

The tournament will kick off with a double-header on Friday, April 24, eventually showcasing a highly anticipated rematch between Morocco’s FUS Rabat and Côte d’Ivoire’s JCA Kings.

With Rabat celebrating its newly appointed status as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2026, the arrival of the BAL further emphasizes the city’s major role as an international hub for culture and elite sporting events.

The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa set to tip off its sixth season in March 2026.

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