Egypt's hotbed of basketball talent back on display as BAL returns to Cairo

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is set to return to Cairo for a third consecutive year next month, cementing Egypt’s growing status as a major player in the sport on the continent.

A collaboration between the NBA and Fiba (International Basketball Federation), the BAL is currently in its fourth season and will see Cairo giants Al Ahly begin their title defence when the Nile Conference tips off on April 19.

Moroccan champions FUS Rabat won the Kalahari Conference last week in Pretoria, South Africa, to secure direct qualification to the play-offs and finals in Rwanda, along with Angolan side Petro de Luanda.

Cairo’s Al Ahly will be looking to join them but will face stiff competition from City Oilers (Uganda), league newcomers Al Ahly Ly (Libya) and Bangui Sporting Club (Central African Republic), when they all square off in the Nile Conference between April 19-27. The regular season will conclude with the Sahara Conference, taking place in Dakar, Senegal, from May 4-12.

Egyptian clubs have won two of the three BAL editions so far, with Zamalek triumphing in the inaugural season before Al Ahly reigned supreme last year.

The league brought an NBA-like flair to basketball fans in Cairo, with star-studded courtside seats and mid-game entertainment providing a unique experience for spectators and players alike.

“It was a great experience overall,” Al Ahly centre Omar Oraby told The National. “The main thing that stood out to me was the organisation. For something like that to be organised in Egypt, it was very different than local competitions or the African competitions that we’re normally used to.

“I know this year is going to be much tougher than last year. All the teams are getting much better and they’re bringing much