Al Ahli Tripoli make history after clinching first BAL title

Al Ahli Tripoli made history by becoming the first Libyan team to win the Basketball Africa League (BAL) title on Saturday, 14 June.

This is after the North African side overcame defending champions Petro de Luanda 88-67 in an entertaining final played at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

The feat capped what had been a mind-boggling run from Abou Chacra Fouad’s side, who defied all odds on their debut season in the continental showpiece to first win all seven games in the 2024 Road to BAL qualifiers, win the Nile Conference undefeated in six games, before winning three straight knockout games to be crowned champions.

They finished with a 9-1 record in the BAL, with their one loss coming in the classification matches to Al Ittihad.

Fouad named BAL Coach of the Year ahead of Final

Coming up against three-time finalists and defending champions Petro, it was Assem Marei who proved tormentor-in-chief, as the centre led all scorers with 22 points in a whooping 38 minutes.

New acquisition and the hero in the semifinals, Fabian White Jr., added 18 points and nine rebounds, as the Libyan champions took an early 27-19 lead in the first quarter that they never relinquished.

Club skipper Mohamed Abdourahman Sadi, who held aloft the trophy after all winners were awarded custom-made rings, scored 11 points and eight rebounds, with bench pieces Jean Jacques Boissy and Caleb Agada putting up double figures - 12 and 10 respectively.

Boissy, who became the first player from Senegal to win the BAL, was voted the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, receiving the Hakeem Olajuwon MVP Trophy from FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave.

Petro de Luanda, who were blown away in the entire second half, on the other hand, finished runners-up for the second time in BAL history, following their defeat to US Monastir in 2022.