KIGALI, Rwanda – The 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs are underway at BK Arena in Kigali, bringing together Africa’s top basketball clubs in a tournament that has already set several new records both on and off the court.
The playoffs tipped off on May 22 and will conclude with the BAL Finals on May 31, as eight of the continent’s best teams compete for Africa’s most prestigious club basketball title.
The teams that qualified for the postseason are Al Ahly (Egypt), Al Ahly Ly (Libya), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), Club Africain (Tunisia), Dar City (Tanzania), FUS Rabat (Morocco), Petro de Luanda (Angola) and RSSB Tigers (Rwanda). The competition will see the top four teams advance to the single-elimination semifinals before the championship game.
This year’s playoffs come at a time when the BAL continues to experience remarkable growth in fan engagement, viewership, and commercial partnerships across the continent and beyond.
Record-Breaking Digital Growth
The league announced that its social media platforms generated more than 722 million views during the 2026 season heading into the playoffs, marking the highest engagement ever recorded during the group phase of the competition.
In addition, BAL games have registered a 1,000 percent increase in total watch time on the BAL digital platforms, including BAL.NBA.com and the NBA App, highlighting the growing appetite for African basketball worldwide.
The competition is now accessible in 214 countries and territories, including all 54 African nations, further cementing its status as a truly global sporting property.
Growing Fan Attendance
The 2026 season also witnessed record attendance during the conference stages held in South Africa and Morocco.
Nearly 75,000 fans attended games during the Kalahari and Sahara Conference group phases, setting new attendance records in both host countries and reflecting the increasing popularity of the league.
Historic Moments on the Court
Several individual and team performances have made headlines throughout the season.
Petro de Luanda guard Childe Dundão became the BAL’s all-time leader in minutes played, surpassing 1,073 career minutes across six seasons.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s Craig Randall II of RSSB Tigers delivered one of the most memorable performances in league history when he scored a BAL-record 54 points against Dar City on April 4.
Another milestone came when Al Ahly Ly and Dar City combined for a record 215 points in a high-scoring encounter that ended 118-97 in favor of the Libyan side.
The BAL also celebrated its 200th game on April 1, when defending champions Petro de Luanda defeated Nairobi City Thunder 97-70.
History was also made by Al Ahly Ly’s Damion Baugh, who became the first player ever to record a triple-double in his debut BAL season after posting 11 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds against Dar City.
Strong Continental Representation
The playoffs feature a high concentration of elite African talent, including 30 players who participated in FIBA AfroBasket 2025 and representatives from 11 of the 16 national teams that competed in the continental championship.
The competition has also attracted a growing number of former NBA players. A record eight ex-NBA athletes participated in the 2026 BAL season, including Mangok Mathiang of RSSB Tigers, Chasson Randle of Petro de Luanda, Hasheem Thabeet of Dar City, and Axel Toupane of ASC Ville de Dakar.
Toupane holds a unique distinction as the first NBA champion to compete in the BAL, having won the 2021 NBA title with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Expanding Commercial Support
The BAL’s commercial footprint has continued to expand, with a record 22 marketing, merchandising, and institutional partners supporting the league this season.
Key partners include Bank of Kigali, Rwanda Development Board, RwandAir, Rwanda Events, Afreximbank, Puma, Hyundai, Amazon Web Services, Air Senegal, and several other regional and international organizations.
The growing partnership portfolio reflects increasing confidence in the league as a platform for sports development, youth engagement, tourism promotion, and economic growth across Africa.
Kigali at the Centre of African Basketball
As the host city for the BAL Finals once again, Kigali continues to strengthen its position as one of Africa’s leading sports destinations.
Fans around the world can follow the action live through NBA.com, the NBA App, and BAL.NBA.com, while thousands are expected to fill BK Arena as the competition reaches its climax.
With record-breaking performances, expanding global reach, and rising fan enthusiasm, the 2026 BAL season is shaping up to be one of the most successful editions in the league’s history.
Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO / KIGALI TIMES