Senegal, Egypt, Rwanda to host 2023 Basketball Africa League

The season of the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) will tip off on March 11 in Senegal, the organisers revealed yesterday.

Senegal, Egypt and Rwanda are the three countries listed to host this year’s championship. The 2023 BAL season will feature top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a total of 38 games in Dakar, Senegal; Cairo, Egypt and Kigali, Rwanda over three months.   According to NBA-Africa, the 12 clubs in the championship will be divided into two conferences, Sahara and Nile, which will play 15-game group phase each. The Sahara Conference will play at the Dakar Arena, Senegal, from March 11 to 21, while the Nile Conference will play at the Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo from April 26 to May 6. 

The top four teams from each conference will advance to an eight-game, single elimination playoffs and finals at BK Arena in Kigali from May 21 to 27. 

According to BAL President, Amadou Gallo Fall, after the BAL’s successful expansion to three iconic African cities last season, they were excited to welcome back their fans in Dakar, Cairo and Kigali in 2023.  “The caravan format envisioned when we launched the BAL allowed more fans to experience the excitement of this world-class league up close and in-person.  “We look forward to building on the success of our second season and continuing to deliver an authentic, African sport and entertainment product that inspires and connects people across the continent and around the world,” he said.

Also speaking on the 2023 competition, FIBA Africa/BAL Board President, Anibal Manave, said: “We are thrilled to announce the third season of the BAL.  “Returning to the three host cities for the second consecutive season will build on our consistent efforts