The 2026 BAL season, also known as BAL Season 6, was the 6th season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The playoffs and finals were held in BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, for a fifth time, as a result of a long-term agreement with the country. The season began on 27 March and finished on 31 May 2026 with the final. The RSSB Tigers from Rwanda won their first title, after beating Petro de Luanda in the final.
As winners, RSSB Tigers earned the right to play in the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Al Ahli Tripoli were the previous champions, but did not qualify for the competition, as they lost in the finals of the Libyan Division I.
Venues Under a long-term agreement between the Rwanda Development Board and the BAL, the playoffs and finals will be held in the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, for a record fifth time.
Qualification
Elite 16 West Division AssociationTeamQualification method Cape VerdeKriol Star Direct qualificationAl Ahly Ly First round West Division Group A winnerCRB Tombouctou First round West Division Group A runners-upJCA Kings First round West Division Group B winnerSpintex Knights First round West Division Group B runners-upMoanda First round West Division Group C winner DR CongoNew Generation First round West Division Group C runners-upNew Tech Bantou First round West Division best third place
East Division AssociationTeamQualification method CameroonBEAC Direct qualification KenyaNairobi City Thunder Direct qualificationDar City First round East Division Group D winnerNamuwongo Blazers First round East Division Group D runners-upJohannesburg Giants First round East Division Group E winnerFerroviário da Beira First round East Division Group E runners-upMatero Magic First round East Division Group E third placeElan Coton First round West Division second best third place
Teams
Petro de Luanda qualified for its sixth BAL season, a record for most appearances by any club. For the first time in league history, US Monastir did not represent Tunisia, as they lost to Club Africain in the Championnat Pro A finals.
For this season, eight teams qualified directly to the main stage, including the champions of Morocco and South Africa. Dar City from Tanzania was given a wild card after finishing third in the East Division of the Road to BAL.
On March 12, 2026, APR withdrew from the season, despite having earlier qualified as Rwandan national champions. The team is owned by the Rwandan Defence Force, which had been under American sanctions due to allegations of supporting armed groups in the DR Congo. As such, the team was not able to participate in the competition, as NBA Africa is an American entity. On Mar 20, FERWABA announced that the RSSB Tigers would replace APR.
Method of qualification and statistics TeamMethod of qualificationDate of qualificationPrevious yearBest performance Club Africain2024–25 Championnat Pro A1st –1Debut Petro de Luanda2024–25 Angolan Basketball League6th 2025 6Champions (2024) Al Ahly2024–25 Egyptian Basketball Premier League3rd 20241Champions (2023) ASC Ville de Dakar2025 Nationale 1 Masculin 2nd20252Group phase (2025) RSSB TigersFERWABA-assigned replacement 1st–1Debut FUS Rabat2024–25 Division Excellence 3rd20253Quarterfinalist (2024, 2025) Maktown Flyers2025 NBBF Premier League1st–1Debut Al Ahly Ly Elite 16 West Division finalist2nd2024 1Runners-up (2024) Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan Elite 16 West Division finalist1st–1Debut Johannesburg GiantsElite 16 East Division finalist1st–1Debut Nairobi City ThunderElite 16 East Division finalist2nd20251Group phase (2025) Dar CityWild card1st–1Debut
Group phase The official schedule was announced on 30 January 2026.
The team allocation and schedule for the group phase were announced on 26 February 2026. Kalahari Conference The Kalahari Conference took place from 27 March to 5 April 2026 in the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.
Sahara Conference The Sahara Conference took place from 24 April to 3 May 2026 in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Indoor Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
Playoffs The playoffs were played at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Bracket
Individual awards The awards was announced on 31 May 2026, before or after the final.
MVP: Craig Randall II, RSSB Tigers Defensive Player of the Year: Mangok Mathiang, RSSB Tigers Coach of the Year: Henry Mwinuka, RSSB Tigers Sportsmanship Award: Mohamed Sadi, Al Ahly Ly
All-BAL First Team G Childe Dundao , Petro de Luanda G Craig Randall II, RSSB Tigers F Donovan Williams, Al Ahly Ly F Majok Deng, Al Ahly Ly C Mangok Mathiang, RSSB Tigers
All-BAL Second Team Omar Abada, Club Africain Zach Lofton, Al Ahly Kevin Murphy, Al Ahly Aboubakar Gakou, Petro de Luanda Jo Lual-Acuil, Al Ahly Ly
BAL All-Defensive First Team G Childe Dundão, Petro de Luanda G Mohamed Sadi, Al Ahly Ly F Aminu Mohammed, Club Africain F Mouhamadou Diagne, FUS Rabat C Mangok Mathiang, RSSB Tigers
BAL All-Defensive Second Team G David Michineau, Dar City G Axel Toupane, ASC Ville de Dakar F Majok Deng, Al Ahly Ly F Osayi Osifo, Al Ahly C Jo Lual-Acuil, Al Ahly Ly
Statistics
Individual statistic leaders CategoryPlayerTeam(s)StatisticPoints per gameCraig Randall IIRSSB Tigers36.1Rebounds per gameMangok MathiangRSSB Tigers12.4Assists per gameDamion BaughAl Ahly Ly10.0Steals per gameAminu MohammedClub Africain2.4David MichineauDar CityBlocks per gameLance ThomasNairobi City Thunder2.8Minutes per gameCraig Randall IIRSSB Tigers38.0Nisre ZouzouaDar CityDaniel UtomiFG%Jo Lual-AcuilAl Ahly Ly58.9%3P%Majok DengAl Ahly Ly51.1%FT%Childe DundãoPetro de Luanda86.5%
Individual game highs
CategoryPlayerTeamStatisticPointsCraig Randall IIRSSB Tigers54 (record)ReboundsSisco George NgaizaDar City24AssistsDamion BaughAl Ahly Ly18 (record)StealsEhab AminAl Ahly7BlocksMouhamadou DiagneFUS Rabat6Three pointersCraig Randall IIRSSB Tigers11 (record)
Team statistic leaders CategoryTeamStatisticPoints per gameAl Ahly Ly100.0Rebounds per gameJCA Kings49.6Assists per gameAl Ahly Ly22.9Steals per gamePetro de Luanda12.3Blocks per gameFUS Rabat4.7Turnovers per gameMaktown Flyers19.6Fouls per gameNairobi City Thunder20.8FG%Al Ahly Ly49.3%FT%Nairobi City Thunder82.1%3P%Al Ahly Ly37.0%Nairobi City Thunder
See also 2026 Women's Basketball League Africa
Notes
References