2022 BAL season

The 2022 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season is the second season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).[1] The season began on 2 March 2022 and will end with the final on 28 May 2022.[2][3] The group phase was played in the Dakar Arena in Dakar and the Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo. The playoffs and finals will be played in the Kigali Arena in Kigali for a second year in a row.

2022 BAL season
The Kigali Arena will host the playoffs and finals
Season2022
Teams12
Games played38
Dates5 March – 28 May 2022
Records
Highest attendance3,000
DUC 86–91 AS Salé
(12 March 2022)
← 2021
2023 →

Format

On 9 December 2021, the BAL announced a new format for the season, with an expansion of the number of total games to 38. The twelve qualified teams are divided over two conference of six teams, in which all teams play the other teams once. The top eight teams from both conferences advance to the playoffs, which remains a single-elimination tournament.[2]

Team allocation

On 13 October 2021, FIBA announced the 26 teams from 26 countries which participate in the qualification round.[4] Eventually, 8 teams withdrew from the qualifications.

  • 1st, 2nd, etc.: Place in the domestic competition
  • TH: Title holder
  • CW: Cup winner
  • QT: National qualification tournament
Group phase
ZamalekTH (1st) US Monastir (1st) DUC (1st) Petro de Luanda (1st)
Rivers Hoopers (1st)[Note NGR] REG (1st)[Note RWA] AS Salé (1st)[Note MOR]
First qualifying round
WA Boufarik AS Police (1st) Prédio City Oilers (1st)
SLAC (1st) AOA (1st) ASPAC (1st) Nigelec
SOA (1st) Espoir Fukash (CW)[Note COD] FAP (1st) Malabo Kings (1st)
Tondema (1st) ASCUT (1st) Cobra Sport Hawassa City
Kurasini Heat (1st) New Star Cape Town Tigers (1st) Ferroviário da Beira (QT)
Roche-Bois Warriors Matero Magic Mercenaries[Note ZIM] Ulinzi Warriors (1st)
Brave Hearts (1st)
Notes
  1. ^
    DR Congo (COD): In FIBA's team list of 13 October, 2020 national champions ASB Mazembe was announced to be the Congolese representative. However, the Fédération de basketball du Congo (FEBACO) eventually decided to enter 2021 champions Espoir Fukash.[5]
  2. ^
    Morocco (MOR): AS Salé was initially drawn into the second qualifying round, which it withdrew from. Later, the team was awarded the void spot left after the exclusion of the Rivers Hoopers of Nigeria.
  3. ^
    Nigeria (NGR): Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers were excluded from the competition as FIBA Africa ruled the championship it won was not valid because it was not hosted by the Nigeria Basketball Federation.[6].
  4. ^
    Rwanda (RWA): The national champions from Rwanda were given direct qualification, as the country will host the semi-finals and finals. Morocco's representative, AS Salé, has been dropped from the six countries which qualified directly and will enter the Elite 16 of the qualifying tournament.[7]
  5. ^
    Zimbabwe (ZIM): The representative team from Zimbabwe, Mercenaries pulled out before its games in Group F started.[8]

Teams

The twelve teams for the inaugural BAL season had to qualify in their domestic competitions to be able to play in the league, similar to other FIBA-organised competitions. Six teams qualify directly as domestic champions; six winners of the qualifying tournaments qualify as well.

Qualified teams

On 22 May 2020, Petro de Luanda was announced as the first qualified team for the 2021 BAL season. The Angolan FAB had abandoned the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and awarded the team the place without naming it as champions.[9] Four teams made their debut in the competition. On January 14, 2022, FIBA Africa decided to exclude the Rivers Hoopers as it stated that the Nigeria Basketball Federation failed to organise a national championship.[10]

Cape Town Tigers (South Africa), Cobra Sport (South Sudan), SLAC (Guinea) and Espoir Fukash (DR Congo) all were the first teams from their countries to play in the BAL.

Team Home city Qualified as Qualified on Previous BAL seasons
Petro de Luanda Luanda, Angola Champions of the 2020–21 Angolan Basketball League 22 May 2020[9] 1 (2021)
US Monastir Monastir, Tunisia Champions of the 2020–21 Championnat National A 8 August 2020 1 (2021)
Zamalek Cairo, Egypt Champions of the 2020–21 Egyptian Basketball Super League 28 June 2021 1 (2021)
DUC Dakar Dakar, Senegal Champions of the 2021 Nationale 1 8 August 2021[11] Debut
REG Kigali, Rwanda Champions of the 2020–21 NBL Rwanda 30 October 2021[12] Debut
AS Salé Salé, Morocco Champions of the 2020–21 Division Excellence 1 (2021)
Cobra Sport Juba, South Sudan Runners-up of East Division 10 December 2021[13] Debut
Ferroviário da Beira Beira, Mozambique Winners of East Division 10 December 2021[13] Debut
SLAC Conakry, Guinea Runners-up of West Division 15 December 2021[14] Debut
FAP Yaoundé, Cameroon Winners of West Division 15 December 2021[15] 1 (2021)
Espoir Fukash Kinshasa, DR Congo Third place of West Division 16 December 2021[16] Debut
Cape Town Tigers Cape Town, South Africa Third place of East Division 11 December 2021[lower-greek 1] Debut
  1. The third place game between Cape Town Tigers and New Star was supposed to be played on 11 December 2021, however, the game was cancelled after six players tested positive on COVID-19 hours before the tip-off.[17] It was a later announced that Cape Town qualified as New Star was forced to forfeit.[18]
Bold: the team won the BAL championship in that year.

Personnel and sponsorship
See also: 2022 BAL season rosters
Team Head coach Team captain
AS Salé Liz Mills[19] Yassine El Mahsini
Cape Town Tigers Relton Booysen Pieter Prinsloo
Cobra Sport Manny Berberi[20] Jared Harrington
DUC Dakar Parfait Adjivon Abel Diop
Espoir Fukash Raven Mwimba Rolly Fula
FAP François Enyegue Ebaku Akumenzoh
Ferroviário da Beira Luis Lopez Hernandez Armando Baptista
Petro de Luanda José Neto Carlos Morais
REG Robert Pack[21] Elie Kaje
SLAC Željko Zečević Mamadi Keita
US Monastir Miodrag Perišić Radhouane Slimane
Zamalek Will Voigt Mostafa Kejo

Foreign and Elevate players

Each BAL team was allowed to have four foreign players on its roster, including only two non-African players.

Team
Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Elevate Player[22]
AS Salé Abdoulaye Harouna[23] Terrell Stoglin[23] Álvaro Calvo Masa[23] Nadir Bennis
Cape Town Tigers Billy Preston[24] Jamel Artis[24] Myck Kabongo[24] Evans Ganapamo[24] Matar Diop
Cobra Sport Jared Harrington[25] Leon Hampton[26] Tom Wamukota[26] Khaman Maluach
DUC Abraham Sie[27] Hadeem Ali[28] Jordan Aboudou[28] Chadrack Lufile[28] Babacar Sane
Espoir Fukash Narcisse Ambanza[29] Emmanuel Okorafor
FAP Joel Almeida[30] Tyjhai Byers[30] Deshaun Norman[30] Ulrich Chomche
Ferroviário da Beira Will Perry[31] Jermel Kennedy[31] Reuben Abuchi Chinyelu
Petro de Luanda Anderson Correia[32] Thierry Darlan
REG Cleveland Thomas[33] Pitchou Kambuy Manga[33] Anthony Walker[33] Joy Ighovodja
SLAC Josh Nzeakor[34] Dane Miller Jr.[34] Chris Obekpa[34] Chris Crawford[34] Serigne Mbaye
US Monastir Michael Dixon[35] Mouloukou Diabate[36] Ater Majok[37] Charles Loic Onana
Zamalek D.J. Strawberry[38] Ike Diogu[39] Édgar Sosa[40] Mikh McKinney[41] Khadim Rassoul Mboup

Schedule
Phase Round Draw date Games
Qualifying First round 13 October 2021 21–31 October 2021
Elite 16 20 November 2021 6–16 December 2021
Group phase Dakar TBD 5–15 March 2022
Cairo 9–19 April 2022
Playoffs Quarter-finals 21–28 May 2022
Semi-finals
Final and third place

Qualifying tournaments
Main article: 2022 BAL qualification

The qualifying tournaments started on 21 October 2021 and ended on 16 December 2021, with 23 teams from 23 countries participating. Six teams qualified for the group phase.

Group phase

The group phase began on 5 March 2022 in the Dakar Arena in Dakar, where 15 games will be played. From 9 April to 19 April 2022, the group phase continued in Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo. The four best teams of each conference advanced to the playoffs.

Sahara Conference
Main article: 2022 BAL Sahara Conference
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD PCT Qualification REG USM ASS SLC CFV DUC
1 REG 5 4 1 431 423 +8 .800[lower-alpha 1] Advance to playoffs — 77–74 91–87 83–81
2 US Monastir 5 4 1 397 355 +42 .800[lower-alpha 1] — 77–71 74–62
3 AS Salé 5 3 2 454 438 +16 .600 90–96 — 91–81 95–84
4 SLAC 5 2 3 392 394 −2 .400 55–76 — 90–74
5 Ferroviário da Beira 5 1 4 416 448 −32 .200[lower-alpha 2] 89–94 — 98–92
6 DUC (H) 5 1 4 402 434 −32 .200[lower-alpha 2] 92–86 86–91 70–85 —
Source: BAL, Afrobasket
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head: REG 77–74 US Monastir on 14 March 2022.
  2. Head-to-head: Ferroviário da Beira 98–92 DUC on 8 March 2022.

Nile Conference
Main article: 2022 BAL Nile Conference
Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD PCT Qualification ZAM PDL CTT FAP CBS ESF
1 Zamalek (H) 5 5 0 444 367 +77 1.000 Advance to playoffs — 85–72 77–63 80–63
2 Petro de Luanda 5 4 1 421 326 +95 .800 — 73–60 92–56 94–64
3 Cape Town Tigers 5 2 3 386 436 −50 .400[lower-alpha 1] 77–101 61–90 —
4 FAP 5 2 3 341 347 −6 .400[lower-alpha 1] 70–73 — 71–64 77–60
5 Cobra Sport 5 1 4 370 408 −38 .200[lower-alpha 2] 79–83 — 108–82
6 Espoir Fukash 5 1 4 394 472 −78 .200[lower-alpha 2] 92–101 96–92 —
Source: BAL, Afrobasket
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. Head-to-head: Cape Town Tigers 73–70 FAP on 13 April 2022.
  2. Head-to-head: Cobra Sport 108–82 Espoir Fukash on 13 April 2022.

Playoffs
Main article: 2022 BAL Playoffs

The playoffs will begin on 21 May and finish on 28 May with the Finals. All games will be played in a single-elimination format, and will be played at the Kigali Arena in Kigali.

Bracket
 
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinals
 
          
 
21 May
 
 
S1
REG
 
25 May
 
N4
FAP
 
Winner of QF1
 
21 May
 
Winner of QF2
 
N2
Petro de Luanda
 
28 May
 
S3
AS Salé
 
Winner of SF1
 
22 May
 
Winner of SF2
 
N1
Zamalek
 
25 May
 
S4
SLAC
 
Winner of QF3
 
22 May
 
Winner of QF4Third place game
 
S2
US Monastir
 
27 May
 
N3
Cape Town Tigers
 
Loser of SF1
 
 
Loser of SF2
 

References
  1. "NBA, FIBA launching 12-team league in Africa; Barack Obama to have hands-on role". USA TODAY.
  2. BAL, NBA-. "BASKETBALL AFRICA LEAGUE TO TIP OFF EXPANDED SECOND SEASON MARCH 5". NBA - BAL. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. "What next for the Basketball Africa League?". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-06-06. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  4. "Draw results for second edition of Basketball Africa League Qualifiers confirmed". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  5. Ndour, Papa Lamine. "BAL : BC Espoir Fukash remplace BC Mazembe pour la RD Congo". Sport News Africa (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  6. "FIBA Africa stops Rivers Hoopers from BAL". The Nation Newspaper. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  7. "Rwandan champions to get automatic ticket to BAL 2022". The New Times Rwanda. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  8. "24 teams set to battle for six remaining tickets for second edition of Basketball Africa League". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  9. "Petro de Luanda earn right to represent Angola at Basketball Africa League 2020-21". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  10. "BREAKING: FIBA throws out Nigeria from BAL Final Round". The Sun Nigeria. 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  11. "APS - Le DUC gagne le titre chez les messieurs". aps.sn. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  12. "Basketball: REG crowned national league champions". The New Times | Rwanda. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  13. "Ferroviario da Beira and Cobra Sport make history by booking tickets to Basketball Africa League 2022". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  14. "Guinea's SLAC stun AS Police in OT, qualify to Basketball Africa League". FIBA.basketball. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  15. "After F.A.P and SLAC which team will secure the last ticket to the BAL?". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  16. "Espoir Fukash beat AS Police in overtime, qualify to BAL 2022". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  17. "Beira finish the Elite 16 Division East competition on a high note". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  18. "Cape Town Tigers qualify for BAL after New Star forfeit". ESPN.com. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  19. "COACH MILLS ARE READY FOR THE SHOW ❤️🏆". AS Salé Basketball. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  20. "Cobra Sport reinforce roster with Wek, Wang". The BAL Report. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  21. Sikubwabo, Damas (18 February 2022). "Rwanda: Basketball - REG Sign American Coach Ahead of Basketball Africa League". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  22. "BAL teams to field one NBA Academy player each in 2022". ESPN.com. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
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  24. "Cape Town Tigers (SOUTH AFRICA)". The BAL.
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  27. "Basketball Africa League: DUC strengthens with an Ivorian leader". Archysport. 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  28. "BAL – Team du Dakar Université Club (Duc) : Américain, Français, Ivoirien et Congolais en renfort". Le Quotidien. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  29. "BC Espoir Fukash (CONGO)". The BAL. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  30. "F.A.P. (CAMEROON)". The BAL. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  31. "CFV Beira (MOZAMBIQUE)". The BAL.
  32. "YANICK MOREIRA E ANDERSON CORREIA APRESENTADOS". Petro de Luanda (in European Portuguese). 14 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  33. "Rwanda Energy Group BBC (RWANDA)". The BAL. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  34. "Nous souhaitons la bienvenue à nos nouveaux guerriers". Instagram.com. SLAC Basketball. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  35. "مايكل ديكسون نجم المنتخب الجورجي لكرة السلة اتحادي 👏". Instagram.com. Union Sportive Monastirienne. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  36. "🏀 سليمان ديباتي نجم المنتخب الإيفواري لكرةالسلة إتحادي 👏". Instagram.com. Union Sportive Monastirienne. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
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  38. "Zamalek SC signs DJ Strawberry". Sportando. January 30, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
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