ROAD TO BAL 2023: ELITE 16 Groups confirmed

Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 03.11.22. | 21:50

The 16 teams were divided into two divisions: West and East, based on their respective geographical regions, each division carrying eight teams for better balance

The 16 African teams got to know their group opponents as FIBA Africa conducted the Elite 16 draw ceremony in their Abidjan offices Thursday evening

Two teams joined the draw, one a wildcard (Elan Coton BBC) and an invitational side (NBA Academy).

The heads of the divisions were given to the respective host sides, Abidjan Basket Club (Ivory Coast) for the West Division and Cape Town Tigers (South Africa) for the East Division.

Each division was then divided into two groups (A and B), each consisting of four teams for better balance and to avoid teams from similar qualifying groups falling in the same Elite 16 pools.

Format

The top two teams from the pair of groups (A and B) in each division qualify to the second round involving semifinals, third place and finals to come up with three teams making it through to the BAL Finals.

Cumulatively, a total of six teams come out from both divisions and into the 2023 BAL global show-piece.

The West Division group games will take place in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) from 15-20 November with the East Division games tipping off in Johannesburg (South Africa) from 22-27 November.

Draw Results

WEST DIVISION

GROUP A: AS Sale (Morocco), Abidjan Basket Club (Ivory Coast), Elan Coton BBC (Benin), Bangui Sporting Club (Central African Republic).

GROUP B: SLAC (Guinea), FAP (Cameroon), Stade Malien (Mali), Nueva Era BBC (Equatorial Guinea)

EAST DIVISION

GROUP A: Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), NBA Academy (Invitational), Urunani BBC (Burundi), Kenya Ports Authority (Kenya).

GROUP B: Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique), Cobra Sports (South Sudan), City Oilers (Uganda), COSPN (Madagascar).


tags

Basketball Africa LeagueBasketball Africa League (BAL)

Other News