Basketball Africa League
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) is the premier men's basketball league in Africa. Founded in 2019, the organization was established by both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
| Organising body | NBA FIBA |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 2019 |
| First season | 2021 |
| Country | FIBA Africa member countries |
| Confederation | FIBA Africa |
| Divisions | 3 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Current champions | Al Ahly (1st title) (2023) |
| Most championships | Zamalek Al Ahly US Monastir (1 title) |
| All-time top scorer | Chris Crawford (341 points) |
| Commissioner | Amadou Gallo Fall |
| TV partners |
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| Website | theBAL.com |
| 2024 BAL season | |
Each season typically runs from March to May, and in the current format the league consists of twelve teams. Each of the teams qualify through their performance in their domestic competition, a meritocratic system similar to the format of the UEFA Champions League. Six teams qualify directly, while six others have to play in the Road to BAL. The season exists out of three conferences and uses playoffs to determine the champions. The BAL champions of each season automatically qualify for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
The first season was held in 2021 and thus far, three champions have won the competion.