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Zawya
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
Basketball Africa League (BAL) Debutant Kriol Star Defeats Home Team ASC Ville de Dakar in Overtime, Petro Beats Monastir
Patrick McGlynn (29 points) and Ivan Almeida (22 points and nine rebounds) combined for 51 points and BAL debutant ( Kriol Star (Cape Verde) beat home team ASC Ville de Dakar 95-92 in overtime on a night to remember in the packed Dakar Arena in Senegal last night. Dakar outrebounded the Star 58-34, which included 24 offensive rebounds, and led in second chance points 26-10, but finished the game with 16 turnovers, compared to the Star's five. Makhtar Gueye led Dakar with 20 points and six rebounds, with Ater Majok adding 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Earlier in the afternoon, the defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) beat the 2022 BAL champion US Monastir (Tunisia) 78-68. Four Petro players scored in double digits, including 21 points and 11 rebounds from Rigberto Mendoza. Led by Patrick Hardy Jr. (16 points), Monastir were more efficient from behind the arc (41.2 percent), but turned the ball over 21 times. With every team's record tied (2 wins and 2 losses), and two games left to play for each contender, it will all come down to the final weekend of the competition. US Monastir will take on Kriol Star and ASC Ville de Dakar will face Petro de Luanda when the Sahara Conference continues on Saturday. The 2025 Basketball Africa League season is reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships, including on Canal+, ESPN, FIBA's digital platform Courtside 1891 and livestreaming on the NBA App, and the BAL's YouTube ( channel. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL). Postgame media availabilities: Petro de Luanda v US Monastir ( ASC Ville de Dakar v Kriol Star ( Sahara Conference Standings:

Zawya
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
156 Players from Record 28 Countries to Compete in 2025 Basketball Africa League Season Tipping off April 5 in Morocco
- Fans Can Watch Every Game Live on the NBA App ( and the BAL's YouTube Channel ( Games Will Reach Fans in 214 Countries and Territories in 17 Languages - - BAL Will Honor NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo Throughout the Season - The Basketball Africa League (BAL) today announced that 156 players from a record 28 countries across five continents will compete in the league's milestone fifth season, which will tip off on Saturday, April 5 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.* In the season opener, 2023 third-place finisher Stade Malien (Mali) will face 2024 third-place finisher Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) at 4:00 p.m. GMT. In the second game, home team Fath Union Sport (FUS; Morocco) will take on first-time BAL participant Al Ittihad (Egypt) at 7:00 p.m. GMT. The complete season schedule is available at The 2025 BAL season will reach fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships with the African Union of Broadcasting, American Forces Network (AFN), Canal+, ESPN, FIBA's digital platform Courtside 1891, NBA TV, Ninety Media Services, SNRT, Tencent Sports, TV5 Monde and livestreaming on the NBA App ( and the BAL's YouTube Channel ( The BAL also today announced that the league will honor NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo throughout the season, including by featuring a 'DM55' patch on all player jerseys and select warm-up gear, as well as moments of silence ahead of each conference group phase. The late four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer served as the NBA's first global ambassador following his retirement in 2009. Single-game tickets for the games in Rabat are available online at and Fans who purchase tickets will also have free access to the BAL Fan Zone at the arena. During the 2025 BAL season, each four-team conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. During group phase play, every team will play on every gameday. The Kalahari Conference group phase will take place from April 5 – Sunday, April 13 in Rabat. The Sahara Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, May 4 at the Dakar Arena in Senegal. The Nile Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 25 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Eight teams from across the three conferences will travel to Pretoria, South Africa for four seeding games followed by an eight-game, single-elimination playoffs and finals from Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 14. View 2025 Basketball Africa League Rosters : Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL). Fans can follow the BAL (@ theBAL) on: Facebook: Instagram: Threads: X: YouTube: Register their interest in receiving more information at About the BAL: The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its fifth season in April 2025. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.

Zawya
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Zawya
Basketball Africa league Announces Collaboration with Wave Senegal and Wave Cote d'Ivoire
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) ( and Wave, Africa's fastest-growing mobile money platform, have joined forces to elevate the fan experience and make basketball more accessible in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. The collaboration will introduce a series of engaging initiatives designed to bring communities closer to the game in conjunction with the 2025 BAL season. Leading up to the BAL's Sahara Conference group phase that will take place from Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, May 4, at the Dakar Arena in Senegal, the BAL and Wave will host a 5-on-5 streetball basketball tournament in Dakar for eight teams of male players. The tournament will tip off on Saturday, March 22 and culminate with a championship game in early May. The eight teams will be comprised of four teams selected by the Senegalese Basketball Federation and four open spots. Registration for the open spots is open now here ( after which a selection committee will review the applications and determine the four participating teams. In addition to promoting local competition, Wave is dedicated to enhancing the BAL experience by making it more accessible and rewarding for fans. Wave users will have the opportunity to earn exclusive rewards, gifts, and other exciting perks through the Wave App rewards program, allowing more people to engage with the excitement of the BAL. Wave users can take advantage of exclusive offers on tickets for the BAL games in Dakar, which are available for purchase now at and The marketing partnership extends beyond Senegal and will also bring impactful initiatives to Côte d'Ivoire. In September 2025, Wave and the BAL will unveil a newly refurbished basketball court in Abidjan, offering young athletes a modern and inspiring space to develop their skills. In addition to the unveiling, the BAL and Wave will organize a training camp at the court for local youth. Additionally, one lucky Wave user from Côte d'Ivoire will win an all-expenses-paid trip to South Africa to attend the 2025 BAL Finals in Pretoria on June 14, where they will have the opportunity to experience the culmination of the BAL season. 'Our collaboration with Wave is part of our commitment to make the BAL and basketball more accessible across the continent,' said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. 'We look forward to working together to provide more opportunities for youth, players and fans in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire to engage with the game and our league.' Echoing this sentiment, Wave Senegal General Director El Hadji Malick Guèye highlighted the synergy between basketball and financial inclusion, stating, 'This marketing partnership with the BAL aligns perfectly with Wave's ambition to expand access to essential services, both in finance and culture. As we revolutionized digital payments in the transport sector, we believe that supporting basketball can be a powerful driver of change. By making the BAL more accessible and launching community-driven initiatives, we reinforce our commitment to a cashless, inclusive, and connected Africa.' Katier Bamba, Wave Côte d'Ivoire General Director, emphasized the collaboration's local significance: 'Basketball is a growing passion in Côte d'Ivoire, and we are thrilled to work with the BAL to provide opportunities that will leave a lasting impact on the community. The court refurbishment in Abidjan will not only give young athletes a professional-grade space to develop their skills but also serve as a hub for local engagement and youth empowerment. Our commitment to financial inclusion extends beyond digital payments; it's about creating experiences and opportunities that uplift entire communities.' The Sahara Conference group phase will feature home team ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), defending BAL champion Petro de Luanda (Angola), first-time BAL participant Kriol Star (Cape Verde) and 2022 BAL champion US Monastir (Tunisia). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL). El Hadji Serigne Falilou Mback CISSE, Wave +221 77 484 98 87 Yasmina Ndella Bileoma, Wave +221 77 555 49 53 yasmina@ Fans can follow the BAL (@ theBAL) on: Facebook: Instagram: Threads: X: YouTube: Register their interest in receiving more information at About the BAL: The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that will tip off its fifth season in April 2025. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America. About WAVE: Wave Mobile Money is Africa's fastest-growing mobile money product. Wave is using technology to build a radically inclusive and extremely affordable financial network. Our ambition is to make Africa the first cashless continent in the world. Wave is operating in seven countries (Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Mali,&Burkina Faso). You can learn more at