BAL to assume new format in 2024 with South Africa earning hosting rights

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Tuesday 7 November announced that its fourth season set to tip off in March next year will mark its debut in South Africa, and will now feature a total of 12 top clubs from 12 African countries.

The expanded tournament will see a record 48 games played across four African countries including the aforementioned South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, and Rwanda.

Also, for the first time, the 12 teams will be divided into three conferences of four teams each, with each conference playing a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice.

The inaugural Kalahari Conference group phase will take place in March, followed by the Nile Conference group phase in April and the Sahara Conference group phase in May.

The top two teams from each conference and the top two third-place teams from across the three conferences will travel to Rwanda for four seeding games, followed by an eight-game single-elimination Playoffs and Finals from May – June.

“We are thrilled to expand our footprint in the BAL’s fourth season and allow more fans to experience the excitement of this historic league, including the first BAL games in South Africa where there is already strong affinity for the game,” BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall said of the new tournament format. “We look forward to building on the momentum of our first three seasons and to continuing to deliver a world-class basketball and entertainment product that represents Africa proudly on the global stage.”

The BAL will announce the host cities, venues, dates, and information about how to purchase tickets for the 2024 BAL season in the coming weeks.

“We are really pleased that Season 4 of the BAL is coming soon, and it has been extended to more African countries in all four corners of the continent,” said FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave. “The BAL has had a very positive impact on players and the sport of basketball in Africa. The upcoming season promises to deliver even more exciting basketball action for fans to enjoy.

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“As we witness great performances during the Road to BAL qualifying tournament and see more African nations participating, we can eagerly anticipate the thrilling moments that the upcoming BAL season will bring.”

National league champions from 12 African countries will once again qualify for the BAL, including through the Road to the BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Africa across the continent from October – November 2023.

In addition, for the third consecutive season, the BAL Elevate program will see one NBA Academy Africa prospect join each of the 12 BAL teams, consequently providing an opportunity for the next generation of African prospects to participate in a professional league, showcase their talent on a global stage, and help their respective teams compete for the 2024 BAL Championship.

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Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, and Wilson will return as BAL Foundational Partners, with the league’s roster of world-class marketing partners including AB InBev, Envol City, Hennessy, and RwandAir.