BAL 2023: Can SLAC survive the toughest conference?

The surprise package of the second BAL season, Seydou Legacy Athletic Club (SLAC) reached the quarter-finals ahead of Mozambique's Ferrovario da Beira and Senegal's Dakar Université Club (DUC). For this third edition, the Guinean representatives have been placed in the Nile Conference (Egypt). It is a tough group, featuring last season's finalists Petro Atletico (Angola) as well as Egypt's Al Ahly. It is a situation that concerns the club's officials. "We've been drawn in the toughest group. That's obvious," begins SLAC's communications manager, who goes on: "The conference is strong. Petro Atletico, who were finalists in the last edition, come in as favourites. And let's not forget Al Ahly of Egypt, who arrive as champions ahead of Zamalek, who took part last season. However, given what we managed to do over the last two editions, we have reason to be confident, even if the task looks tough," admits Moussa Kamara.

Despite the lack of local competition, the club believe in their chances. To that end, the officials want to draw on the experience gained over the last two editions to get out of this tough conference. "We are SLAC, we have been taking part in the BAL for a few seasons now, from the qualifiers to the final phase. We want to use the experience gained in recent years to reach the next round," Moussa Kamara reassures.

Signings to go far

To make a good showing in the tournament, the club have gone into overdrive in the transfer market. High-level signings have arrived. Nigerian international Uchenna Ireogbu and his compatriot Michael Nwazubor have joined the club. They are joined by Guinean internationals Mambourou Mara, Ibrahima Kalil Fofana and Ibrahima Doumbouya, among others. American Dane Anthony Miller, who has been on every SLAC campaign, is also part of the squad. "Admittedly, there was no league. But we loaned out players from our squad, such as Ibrahima Kalil Fofana, who was at Association Sportive d'Adjamé (Ivory Coast) to get game time. Dane Miller was on loan in Canada. Nigerian international Michael Nzwabuzor was also on loan in the USA. Some of the players have still been competing. We hope it all clicks so that we can go as far as possible," Moussa Kamara says, trying to reassure.

Ibrahima Kalil Fofana, who had joined Adjamé Basket-ball Club (Ivory Coast) at the start of the season, is therefore back at his longtime club. Already part of all the club's campaigns, he will put his experience and the game time he picked up in the Ivorian Ligue 1 to use to take on a bigger role in the group. The point guard makes no secret of it: to get out of this conference, they will have to produce their best. "The objective is to reach the semi-final. Our ambition is first of all to win the opening game, no matter what. And then to win the others, because every match has its own reality. We have to go step by step. We think we can go far in this battle," says Ibrahima Kalil Fofana.

On the same subject: BAL 2023: SLAC sign a Nigerian international

Having played in the last two editions of the BAL, the latest of which ended in a quarter-final exit to Egypt's Zamalek, SLAC want to make it three in a row. In their opening game in the Nile Conference (Egypt), SLAC will take on South Africa's Cape Town Tigers before facing, in turn, Ferrovario Beira (Mozambique), City Oilers (Uganda) and Al Ahly (Egypt). To secure one of the four qualifying places, the Guinean representatives will need to deliver high-level performances. Going out at this stage would undoubtedly be a failure for a club who fell at the doorstep of the semi-finals last season.

Mamadou Gongorè DIALLO