Pretoria: The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs and Finals are set to take place at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, from June 6 to June 14. This marks the first time South Africa will host the finals, featuring the top eight teams from the conference group phases held in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; and Kigali, Rwanda. The qualified teams include top-seeded AlAhli Tripoli from Libya and second-seeded Al Ittihad from Egypt, both boasting an unbeaten 6-0 record.
According to African Press Organization, the league achieved several milestones this season. The BAL set an attendance record with 111,008 fans attending the group phases, including three sold-out opening days. The league has contributed significantly to the African economy, creating nearly 37,000 jobs over its first four seasons. Additionally, the BAL has engaged 2,347 youth and community members through its social impact programs.
Media coverage of the season was extensive, with more than 600 media representatives from 30 c
ountries in Africa, Europe, and the United States credentialed to cover the group phases. The league’s reach extended to fans in 214 countries and territories across 17 languages, demonstrating its global appeal.
The 12 teams participating in the season collectively featured 156 players from a record 28 countries. The on-court action included notable performances, such as AlAhli Tripoli scoring a BAL-record 115 points in a victory over the Nairobi City Thunder. Individual achievements included MBB guard Teafale Lenard Jr. scoring a season-high 39 points, and Rivers Hoopers center Peter Olisemeka grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds.
In the playmaking department, Petro de Luanda guard Childe Dundao set a record with 13 assists in a single game. APR center Aliou Diarra set a BAL record with eight blocked shots in a game, while Al Ahli Tripoli guard Jean-Jacques Boissy made eight three-pointers in a single match. The season also saw a record six new teams and two new countries participate, highlighting the leagu
e’s expansion.
The BAL Elevate program continued to develop young talent, with one NBA Academy Africa prospect joining each of the 12 teams. Notably, Kriol Star became the only team to win two overtime games in the same season. Both US Monastir and Petro de Luanda maintained their record of competing in all five BAL seasons. This season also marked the first time BAL games were held in Morocco, broadening the league’s geographic footprint.