Rabat, the capital of Morocco, is hosting the BAL with the Sahara Conference from April 24 to May 3 at the Salle Omnisports Moulay Abdellah, a 10,000-seat venue adjacent to the football stadium of the same name, which had hosted the final of the AFCON 2025. The six teams compete in a simple format: each club faces the other five opponents, and the first four qualify for the Final 8 where they will compete against the four teams from the Kalahari Conference.
Al Ahly SC, the big favorite
In addition to FUS Rabat as the host team, the five qualifying teams are Al Ahly SC (Egypt), Club Africain (Tunisia), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), Maktown Flyers (Nigeria) and JCA Kings (Côte d'Ivoire).
Al Ahly is clearly the team to beat in this conference. It is the only team from the Sahara 2026 Conference to have already won the BAL (2023), and it intends to do it again. Al Ahly is one of two teams this season, along with Petro de Luanda, to try to win the title for the second time. Their squad is formidable, with players of great caliber such as Ehab Amin, Jonathan Jordan or Zachary Lofton.
FUS Rabat, the home advantage
The Moroccan club has experience and the public behind them. FUS Rabat is playing its third consecutive appearance at BAL. After winning the Kalahari Conference in 2024 (3 wins and 1 loss), he reached the playoffs in 2025, finishing in 8th place. The 2026 squad is based on experienced players: the Americans Will Perry and Anthony Pritchard, the Moroccan Abdelhakim Zouita, and the South Sudanese Kwany Ater Kwany, all under the guidance of coach Said El Bouzidi.
The underdogs
Last year, ASC Ville de Dakar finished last at the Sahara Conference with a record of two wins and four losses, thus missing qualification for the Final 8. However, the club distinguished itself by beating the defending champion, Petro de Luanda. This season, crowned champion of Senegal, the Dakar club is entering the competition with a clear ambition to secure a place in the Final 8. With the arrival of Solo Diabaté and Axel Toupane, the team has considerably increased its power.
The newcomers to discover
Half of the six teams from the 2026 Sahara Conference make their BAL debuts: Club Africain (Tunisia), JCA Kings (Ivory Coast) and Maktown Flyers (Nigeria).
For the Club Africain, this will be the first participation in BAL for the Tunis club. But the squad is far from naive. Omar Abada, double AfroBasket champion with Tunisia and member of the BAL All-Team 2021, becomes the main scoring and game creation option for the Tunisians. A team not to be underestimated.
The JCA Kings approach the competition with ambition. President Ismaël Cissé declared that he wanted to make the JCA Kings a sustainable continental reference and create a legacy. Ivorians can count on players like Chris Crawford and Jonathan Cissé.
Players to follow
Solo Diabaté (ASC Ville de Dakar): The only player of the Sahara 2026 Conference holding two BAL titles. Natural and vocal leader, he is a scorer capable of influencing great moments. He could become the first player to win three BAL titles if Michael Fakuade does not join a team for the playoffs.
Axel Toupane (ASC Ville de Dakar): 2021 NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks and 2017 G League champion with the Toronto 905, the 2.01m Franco-Senegalese brings a rare quality to the Dakar team. He is the first NBA champion to play for a BAL club.
Ehab Amin (Al Ahly): For 15 years, it’s impossible to talk about Egyptian basketball without quoting Ehab Amin. A fearless leader on both sides of the court, he played a key role in Al Ahly’s BAL 2023 title.
Will Perry (FUS Rabat): A well-known name in BAL. By 2023, he had tied the league-record with 41 points, making 9 three-pointers out of 14 in a game against SLAC.
Jonathan Jordan (Al Ahly): A prolific leader of 1m78, 2017 G League champion with the Raptors 905, Jordan is also an international for DR Congo. He has established himself as a major player in BAL since his debut with FUS Rabat in 2024.
Omar Abada (Club Africain): At 33 years old, the Tunisian starts his fourth season in BAL with the ambition to finally win a continental title.
Zachary Lofton (Al Ahly): A regular scorer with the Detroit Pistons in the NBA and winner of the 2024 FIBA Champions League with Al Riyadi in Lebanon, he further strengthens the offensive power of the Egyptians.
The historical particularities to note
This Sahara Conference will be full of firsts. Five of the six coaches present are leading a team in BAL for the first time. Said El Bouzidi of FUS Rabat is the only one to start a fourth season in the competition.
Notable technical fact: Stéphane Konaté, who made his BAL debut as a player with the ABC Fighters in 2023, is about to become the first former player to coach a team in the league, at the head of the JCA Kings.
Finally, Abdelhakim Zouita of FUS Rabat is the only former MVP of the FIBA African Club Cup (2017) still in professional activity on the continent.
Join our sports community!
Follow us on social media to never miss real-time sports news.
À propos de l'auteur
Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.