ASSOCIATION Sportives des Douanes, or simply AS Douanes, head into Season 4 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as hosts of the Sahara Conference and a household name in BAL.
The Big Tip Off previews the BAL Season 3 finalists.
Team: AS Douanes
Country: Senegal
History: The Senegalese club, founded in 1980, has a rich history. Nicknamed Les Gabelous, the team participates in the Nationale Division 1 (NM1). They are Senegal’s most successful team, having won thirty-six trophies. They have won the NM1 for a record eleven times. Their most successful continental outing was finishing as runners-up in the 2023 BAL season after a tough defeat to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
Route to BAL: Senegal is the host nation of the Sahara Conference, and their clubs only need to win their national championship to gain automatic qualification for the BAL.
Coach: Senegalese coach Pabi Gueye has been at the helm for 11 years. The Senegalese now coaches the team he once played for and helped win several NM1 titles. He saw his team do exceedingly well when he trusted the local talent. It allowed the talents of Jean Jacques Boissy to flourish. The coach had a successful season but ultimately fell short in the finals.
Gueye won the Coach of the Year award after the successful campaign. There is no doubt that the former Senegal coach will not only try to repeat this feat but also try to lead his team to the finals and lift the trophy this time around.
Star player: Jean Jacques Boissy is the star player for the Senegalese outfit. He is a local talent who initially came off the bench in the BAL 2023.
Boissy’s performances (13 points per game) convinced Pabi Gueye that he deserved a starting role last year. His performance landed him a contract with Aurore Vitré in France.
Boissy earned the All-BAL First Team and BAL All-Defensive First Team in the 2023 season. He is young and ambitious. He will be looking to lift the trophy and to make himself a household name in African basketball.
