Kalahari Conference: Excitement Builds for Basketball Africa League Season

The anticipation has reached its peak as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) gears up for its fourth consecutive season, promising fans an exhilarating lineup of basketball action.

Set to tip off on Saturday, March 9, in Pretoria, South Africa. the BAL Season 4 will see the debut of the Kalahari Conference alongside the established Nile and Sahara Conferences.

Comprising teams from across the continent, the Kalahari Conference boasts a diverse lineup including Petro de Luanda from Angola, Cape Town Tigers representing South Africa, Dynamo Basketball Club from Burundi, and FUS Rabat hailing from Morocco.

From March 9 to 17, these four teams will battle it out at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, facing each other twice in a round-robin format. The stakes are high as teams vie for a coveted spot in the BAL Playoffs in May at the BK Arena in Kigali.

But how did the Kalahari Conference teams qualify for BAL Season 4?

While Petro de Luanda secured their place in the league for a record fourth consecutive season by clinching victory in the Angolan League, Cape Town Tigers, Dynamo, and FUS Rabat underwent a rigorous qualifying process, known as the Road to the BAL, organized by FIBA Africa.

Cape Town Tigers

The Cape Town Tigers, making their third consecutive appearance in the league, blazed through the Road to the BAL Elite 16 campaign in the East Division with a flawless record of 5-0. Their dominant performance saw them triumph over formidable opponents including Dynamo, Pazi Basketball Club, NBA Academy Africa, COSPN, and City Oilers.

Dynamo Basketball Club

Dynamo Basketball Club of Burundi embarked on an extraordinary journey to qualify for BAL Season 4. Despite finishing second in Dar es Salaam’s Group C, Dynamo secured a wild card entry from FIBA Africa after a compelling performance in the East Division Elite 16, including a nail-biting victory over COSPN in the Third-Place Game.

FUS Rabat

FUS Rabat of Morocco clinched their spot in the BAL Season 4 by finishing second in the West Division’s Elite 16, despite a narrow defeat to Bangui Sporting Club in the final. Their path to qualification included impressive victories over ABC Fighters, SLAC, and FAP, cementing their status as a formidable contender in the league.

The opening game of the BAL Season 4 will see Petro de Luanda going up against FUS Rabat at 4pm (CAT) on Saturday, March 9 while Cape Town Tigers will face Dynamo Basketball Club at 7 pm (CAT).