Inside The 2025 BAL Playoffs, Meet The Final Eight Contenders

The stage is set in Pretoria for the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs and Finals, bringing together the best of African basketball under one electrifying spotlight. Eight of the continent’s elite clubs have converged in South Africa’s capital, each with a unique story to tell, from unbeaten streaks to underdog determination, from redemption arcs to debut dreams.

With legacies on the line and the championship within reach, this year’s playoffs promise intense matchups, standout individual performances, and strategic masterclasses. Two teams arrive undefeated, exuding confidence, while others, having faced past exits, are eager for a second chance. Additionally, there are the newcomers, fearless, fast, and ready to shake things up.

Here’s a closer look at the contenders shaping the 2025 BAL title race, featuring insights from media day, where players and coaches shared their mindsets, strategies, and determination as they head into the playoffs.

Al Ittihad Alexandria (Egypt): Unbeaten, Unshaken

Egyptian champions Al Ittihad come in undefeated, their perfect 6-0 record underscoring a dominant debut season. Their coach, Fouad Abou Chakra, reflected on the physical toll of a gruelling domestic schedule but stressed the importance of regaining rhythm:

“We just finished our league with five games in eight days, so it was hard. Our goal now is to regain our team shape and chemistry again. We were in good shape in Morocco, and we want to do it again here.”

Al Ittihad’s offensive efficiency is among the league’s best, boasting the highest true shooting percentage (.577) and a lethal transition game which will only get better with the addition of Jo Lual Acuil who was The 2024 BAL Season’s MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-BAL First Team.

Former NBA guard George King shed light on their post-season mindset:

“We’ll take what we did in the first conference and continue to build on that. We have a new talented player on our team, and we’re integrating him while focusing on defense and running the floor as we did in Morocco.”

King took a trip to Rwanda following the conclusion of the Kalahari Conference and was able to watch the Nile Conference games both as a fan as well as a competitor preparing for today’s very moment:

“In Kigali, I watched as a fan and scout to understand our competition here in South Africa. I’m sharing that insight with the team to give us an advantage.”

Their biggest test will likely come from fellow unbeaten side Al Ahli Tripoli, who mirror their record and boast an explosive offense. Coach Abou Chakra tempered expectations with pragmatism:

“All the teams that qualified are really great teams. Al Ahli Tripoli went 6-0 just like us and have great players. But this game is about your preparation for the next game.”

Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya): The Offensive Juggernauts

Making a sensational BAL debut, Al Ahli Tripoli has done the opposite of flying under the radar with their perfect 6-0 run. Their style is fast-paced and high-scoring, the league’s quickest team averaging over 100 points per game.

The Senegalese guard Jean Jacques Boissy leads the league in scoring with 23.8 PPG, coming off the bench to underscore their impressive depth.

Their efficiency in shooting and ball movement marks them as a formidable opponent. They may be newcomers, but their balance and composure have them quietly threatening to upset any favourite.

US Monastir (Tunisia): Battle-Hardened and Believing

The 2022 BAL champions enter the playoffs with a blend of confidence and resilience. Moving past injury setbacks in previous seasons which may have dampened their chances, veteran Radhouane Slimane is optimistic about the team’s overall growth:

“This team has matured a lot since our first games; we’ve learned from past experiences and are more focused now.”

Slimane also emphasised the key to success on the court noting that no two days are the same and one cannot rest on their offensive laurels:

“Defense is the main key; if we’re not strong defensively, our talent alone won’t be enough to compete.”

Coach Vasco Curado’s stepwise approach is to not get too carried away with looking at the trophy but to attack each day as it comes, from the seeding games and beyond:

“Our goal is to be in the best shape for the quarterfinals and then focus step-by-step toward the final.”

Monastir’s defense remains a hallmark, boasting the lowest opponent field goal percentage and an elite block rate, supported by their local core.

Petro de Luanda (Angola): Hunted, Not Humbled

Defending champions Petro de Luanda carry the burden of expectation with calm confidence. Veteran center Yannick Moreira, who is the only player to have won titles in the G-League, the BAL, and the FIBA Champions League knows better than most how to manage the pressure:

“Every team is hunting us because we have something they want, but we are well-prepared and well-coached.”

The Angolan’s suffocating defense tops the league in steals and defensive rating, anchored by experienced players such as Glofate Buiamba and Childe Dundao. Newcomer and the only player with a home court advantage, Samkelo Cele is eager to contribute:

“The transition was easy because I’m just here to play basketball. It’s a good challenge to be part of a winning program.”

Petro’s balanced blend of youth and experience positions them as a perennial threat.

FUS de Rabat (Morocco): Redemption Season

After an early exit last year as the number one seed, Moroccan champions FUS de Rabat walk into Pretoria with renewed determination and a different perspective. Coach Said El Bouzidi expressed the team’s motivation:

“Last year we were the first seed, but we got eliminated early. This year, we want to erase that image and be more efficient.”

The Moroccan Champions spent the weeks leading up to the Playoffs making various adjustments to the vulnerabilities that the Kalahari Conference exposed in their armour through their domestic league and have a new lease on life. Point guard John Jordan described the emotional rollercoaster of qualification, which was only confirmed after the last regular season game between Rwanda’s APR and Kenya’s Nairobi City Thunder:

“It was an emotional rollercoaster watching other conferences, some days it felt like we’d get in, others not. On the last day, I did the math and realised we’d definitely qualify.”

FUS’s defensive discipline and clutch veteran leadership will be crucial as they seek to turn promise into performance.

APR (Rwanda): Built for the Moment

APR make their first playoff appearance following a thrilling Nile Conference in front of their home crowd. APR along with Al Ahli Tripoli had the quickest turnaround and shortest preparation time for the post-season, having completed the Nile Conference just 12 days ago.

APR was riddled with injury during that conference, so their full ceiling remains unknown. Their number 6 seed allows them to fly under the radar but they should not be underestimated. Coach James Maye Jr. emphasised team adjustments and freshness as their priority in the last week and a half: “We had to clean up habits and keep our guys fresh and sharp to give ourselves the best chance to win.”

The East African champions will be fuelled by the late addition of forward Nuni Omot, who was the BAL’s 2023 MVP with Al Ahly SC.

“I’m excited to be back. The BAL has grown tremendously and has so much room to continue growing. Being part of this as a player and as someone from the continent is huge.”

APR plays a high-tempo, assist-heavy style but must improve free-throw shooting to maximise their defensive strengths.

Kriol Star (Cape Verde): Pride of the Underdogs

Making history as Cape Verde’s first BAL playoff team, Kriol Star embodies grit and determination, exemplifying the spirit of possibility in African basketball. One player to watch is Lewis Uwvo, an NBA Elevate player who played 40 of the 45 minutes in their final conference game and tipped in the ball that secured their ticket to Pretoria. Kriol Star plays a full four-quarter game with physicality and heart, ready to light up the playoffs.

“The Sahara Conference was probably the most competitive BAL conference ever,” shared Coach Hugo Salgado.”Every team had a chance to qualify until the last day, showing how strong the competition was.”

Coach Hugo Salgado credits their unity and ambition as what helped them make it through:

“We are now among the best eight teams in Africa. Everybody is going to have a word to say. We have quality, and we are candidates for the title. We’re here to fight every game like in the Sahara Conference.”

Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria): Recalibrated and Ready

After falling just short in last year’s semifinals, Rivers Hoopers return to the playoffs with a renewed edge and a sharpened sense of purpose. “Last year in the semifinals, we had the ball on the last possession and didn’t execute well,” recalled captain Kelvin Amayo. “This time, we will be clinical and efficient.” That painful memory has fuelled their recalibration and every decision since has been made with execution and endurance in mind.

2024 BAL Coach of the Year Ogoh Odaudu took deliberate steps to address the team’s shortcomings, particularly the fatigue and defensive inconsistencies that showed in Morocco. “We needed to address the deficiencies we faced while playing in Morocco earlier this season,” he said. “Ahmed Doumbia is very defensive-minded and a beast on offense. We brought him to assist Kelvin with defensive duties in the backcourt.”

The strategic additions not only bolster the roster’s depth but are designed to maintain high-level performance without overburdening key players down the stretch. Peter Olisemeka has remained the defensive anchor of the Kings Men. His rebounding has been unmatched, with 68 total boards across six games, the most in the regular season. He set a season-high with 17 rebounds in a single outing. However, their 94–77 loss to Al Ittihad Alexandria in Rabat, despite his dominance, made it clear that one man’s effort wasn’t enough.

Now reinforced, deeper, and with a collective focus on efficiency, Rivers Hoopers are not just chasing redemption, they’re gunning for Nigeria’s first BAL title with clinical intent.

The Road Ahead

As these eight teams embark on the playoff journey, the mix of unbeaten records, championship experience, redemption arcs, and debut dreams guarantees thrilling basketball. For newcomers like Kriol Star and Al Ahli Tripoli, it’s about seizing the moment on the biggest stage in African basketball. With talent, heart, and history on the line, the 2025 BAL Playoffs promise drama, passion, and unforgettable moments. Let the games begin.