By David Mwaura
The stage is set for the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs, which tips off on 24 May to 1 June at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
The top eight teams from the concluded conferences playoffs will battle it out in twelve intense games to determine the new champion of African basketball.
This year’s playoffs promise to be the most unpredictable yet, despite defending champions Al Ahly SC entering with the best win-loss record (5-1). With teams making crucial adjustments and drawing lessons from the conference games, every team stands a chance at the title.
Al Ahly Ly, Al Ahly SC, AS Douanes, Cape Town Tigers, FUS Rabat, Petro de Luanda, Rivers Hoopers, and US Monastir are the contenders, each bringing unique strengths and stories to the court.
Solo Diabate of Al Ahly Ly is the only player vying for his third BAL title, having previously won with Zamalek in 2021 and US Monastir in 2022. Meanwhile, Al Ahly SC’s coach, Agusti Julbe Bosch, aims to become the first coach to win three BAL titles, after leading Zamalek to victory in the inaugural season and guiding Al Ahly SC to last year’s championship.
US Monastir, after a remarkable turnaround from 0-3 to 3-3 in the group phase, return to the playoffs since their 2022 triumph. Cape Town Tigers make their third consecutive postseason appearance, while Rivers Hoopers are the first Nigerian team to reach the BAL Playoffs. AS Douanes, the surprise runners-up last season, and Petro de Luanda, consistent playoff participants, also pose formidable threats.
Notably, Al Ahly SC is on a mission to become the first team to win back-to-back BAL titles. In contrast, Al Ahly Ly and FUS Rabat are making their playoff debuts, eager to make a mark.
Among the players to watch, Jo-Lual Acuil Jr. of Al Ahly Ly stands out, having set a new BAL scoring record with 42 points in a game against City Oilers. Other All-BAL First Team players like Carlos Morais, Ater Majok, Chris Crawford, Jean Jacques Boissy, and Aliou Diarra are expected to shine.
Sharp shooters such as Will Perry (Rivers Hoopers), Ayoub Nouhi and Jonathan Jordan (FUS Rabat), and Mark Lyons (Al Ahly SC) are also in the spotlight. Athletically gifted players like Sadio Doucoure (US Monastir), Devine Eke (Rivers Hoopers), Sameko Cele (Cape Town Tigers), and Madut Acek (AS Douanes) promise to bring excitement to the games.
As the playoffs kicks off, fans are eager to see who will emerge as the 2024 BAL champions. With each team bringing its best to Kigali, the competition is bound to be fierce, making this season’s playoffs a must-watch event.
