Sandisiwe Msibi - The Big Tip Off

A look back at the Sahara Conference

Final Standings

The Sahara Conference produced a fascinating final table, with the fourth playoff spot decided on the final day.

Club Africain secured the top spot with a 4-1 record, becoming the first team from the conference to punch their playoff ticket on April 29. The Tunisian debutants exceeded all expectations, while hosts FUS Rabat and former champions Al Ahly rounded out the top three. The last playoff spot was secured by Senegal’s champion, ASC Ville de Dakar.

Ehab Amin Al Ahly BAL 2026 — **Ehab Amin and Al Ahly showed the pedigree that saw them win the 2023 BAL title. Pictures: Getty and BAL**

Records & Notable Numbers

There can’t be a mention of this conference without mentioning close games, and they were delivered in abundance. The final standings were ultimately determined by which teams could execute under pressure and which crumbled when it mattered most.

The four playoff-bound teams, Club Africain, Al Ahly, FUS Rabat, and ASC Ville de Dakar, combined for a 12-5 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer. While the bottom two, Maktown Flyers and JCA Kings, went just 1-8, their inability to close out tight contests proved the difference between postseason basketball and an early exit.

Most Team Rebounds in a Game

The JCA Kings made history even in defeat. In their 79–74 overtime loss to Club Africain, the Ivorian champions grabbed 65 rebounds, tying the BAL record previously set by the Rivers Hoopers in May 2025. What made it even more remarkable: the Kings had already pulled down 60 rebounds by the end of regulation. Four players, Chris Crawford, Babatunde William, Chris Echui and Cheikh Diong, finished with 10 or more rebounds each. Their 23 offensive rebounds were among the highest in league history

A New Addition to the Winless Club

The JCA Kings finished 0–5, joining an unfortunate list of BAL teams that have gone winless in conference play: AS Police from Mali in 2021, GSP from Algeria in 2021, GNBC from Madagascar in 2021, Kwara Falcons from Nigeria in 2023, Stade Malien from Mali in 2025, and the Johannesburg Giants from South Africa in 2026.

A League First: 500 Career Points

Two players crossed the 500-point threshold in BAL history: Abdoulaye Harouna of FUS de Rabat became the first to do so during the 2026 Sahara Conference. Entering with 490 career points and surpassing the milestone in his second game to finish with 532 points across 31 BAL games, Chris Crawford of JCA Kings joined him as the second member of the exclusive club, having already reached 500 points before the 2026 season.

Solo Diabate AS Ville de Dakar BAL Sahara Conference 2026 — **Solo Diabate will make his sixth BAL playoff appearance in the colours of AS Ville de Dakar.**

Club Africain (4-1)

The biggest story of the Sahara Conference has been Club Africain’s stunning performance. The Tunisian champions, making their first-ever BAL appearance, have been nothing short of sensational.

Led by the incomparable Omar Abada and bolstered by the inside presence of Drew Cisse and Mohamed Hadidane, they combined disciplined defence with clutch offence. Their only stumble came against FUS Rabat in the final game, but by then they had already secured the conference’s top seed.

Al Ahly Egypt (4-1)

The only former BAL champion in the conference, Al Ahly, lived up to their pedigree. Despite an opening-night stumble against Club Africain (68–69), Al Ahly responded with four straight wins to claim the conference’s second seed.

Their roster depth proved decisive, with Kevin Murphy leading the team at 20.7 PPG and Zach Lofton dropping a conference record 32 points in one game. The double-OT win over FUS Rabat, 77–71, demonstrated their mental toughness. They enter the Kigali playoffs as the team to beat. That double-overtime thriller was Al Ahly’s intense game against FUS de Rabat. The Egyptian champions pulled out a 77–71 victory after two extra periods.

FUS Rabat (3-2)

The hosts endured a rollercoaster ride at the Sahara Conference. After starting 2-0, they suffered a stunning one-point loss to ASC Ville de Dakar and lost three key players, Abdelhakim Zouita, Ilias Aqboub, and Abdoulaye Harouna to injury. Yet they showed their championship pedigree by bouncing back to defeat unbeaten Club Africain in front of a packed home crowd. With Kuany Kuany, Mouhamadou Diagne, and Anthony Pritchard stepping up, FUS Rabat proved their depth and resilience. Their third consecutive BAL appearance has seen them evolve from quarterfinalists to genuine title contenders.

ASC Ville de Dakar (3-2)

Ville de Dakar authored one of the great turnaround stories of the conference. After early losses to Club Africain and Al Ahly, they won three consecutive games, including the clutch 79–62 victory over Maktown Flyers in the winner-take-all finale to snatch the last playoff spot. After missing the playoffs last season, this qualification felt like redemption.

FUS Rabat players BAL 2026 — **Ayoub Nouhi and Anthony Pritchard ensured FUS Rabat will compete in their third playoffs.**

Maktown Flyers (1-4)

So close, yet so far. The Nigerian champions showed flashes of their potential. Their only win came against the winless JCA Kings, 88–67. A lack of bench depth and empty scoring runs, particularly in fourth quarters, proved fatal.

Al-Wajid Aminu was their standout performer, but it wasn’t enough. They became only the second Nigerian team to miss the BAL playoffs, following the Kwara Falcons in 2023.

JCA Kings (0-5)

The JCA Kings’ first BAL campaign will be remembered as a learning experience rather than a competitive one. The Ivorian side failed to secure a single victory across the conference, joining the Johannesburg Giants as the two winless teams this season.

While the results were disappointing, the exposure to continental competition should serve as valuable development for a club still building their programme. Competing against established powers like Al Ahly and FUS Rabat provided a measuring stick for where Ivorian club basketball stands.

The Sahara Conference has set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying BAL Playoffs in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 22 to 31. With Club Africain, FUS Rabat, Al Ahly, and ASC Ville de Dakar joining Kalahari Conference qualifiers RSSB Tigers, Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly Ly, and Dar City, the race for the 2026 BAL championship is wide open.

A look back at the Sahara Conference Read More »

BAL Sahara Conference hits miday point

Current Standings

Club Africain sits comfortably at the top of the standings at 3–0, their perfect start enough to clinch the first ticket to Kigali. Behind them, the host club FUS Rabat and Al Ahly are tied at 2–1, holding the head-to-head edge for now.

The middle of the table is where the tension truly lies. ASC Ville de Dakar and Maktown Flyers are both 1–2, with ASC currently occupying the fourth playoff spot thanks to a dramatic one-point victory over FUS Rabat.

At the bottom, JCA Kings remain winless at 0–3, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. With only three game days remaining and three spots still up for grabs, every possession from here carries playoff implications.

Nail-Biters and Down-to-the-Wire Drama

The Sahara Conference has delivered tense action from the opening tip. Club Africain’s 85–79 win over ASC Ville de Dakar set the tone, a six-point thriller decided in the closing minutes. Maktown Flyers followed with a gritty 76–68 win over JCA Kings, refusing to let their campaign spiral early.

Osayi Osifo of Al Ahly BAL 2026 — **Osayi Osifo has helped Egypt’s Al Ahly get into a good position for the playoffs. Pictures: NBA and Getty**

One of the biggest shocks came when Club Africain edged Al Ahly 69–68, announcing themselves as legitimate contenders. Tuesday night raised the stakes even further, as Club Africain survived a gruelling 79–74 overtime battle against JCA Kings. This win clinched their ticket to Kigali.

Perhaps the most dramatic moment came when ASC Ville de Dakar stunned FUS Rabat 67–66, sealed by a clutch three-pointer from Samba Fall with just four seconds remaining. This shot reshaped the playoff picture instantly.

Scoring output

While the Kalahari Conference featured more explosive offensive outputs, with Petro de Luanda breaking the 100-point barrier three times and several games landing in the 90s. The Sahara Conference has been more tightly contested, with winning scores typically in the 60s to 80s range and fewer blowouts. So far, only one game has reached the 90s: FUS Rabat’s 97–72 demolition of Maktown Flyers.

This suggests that while the Kalahari has produced higher-scoring games overall, the Sahara’s tighter margins may better prepare teams for the pressure awaiting in Kigali.

The debutantes divide

Club Africain has been the revelation of the conference. They stunned the Egyptian champions Al Ahly 69-68 in their opener. They followed with an 85-79 win over ASC Ville de Dakar. Then they survived a gruelling 79-74 overtime battle against JCA Kings on Tuesday night, which secured the first playoff spot for them.

Maktown Flyers authored another compelling narrative. The Nigerian club refused to stay down. After a 25-point defeat to FUS Rabat in their opener, the Nigerian side regrouped and made history, defeating JCA Kings 76-68. However, they came up short against Al Ahly, losing 89-80 in their third game.

Samba Fall ASC Ville de Dakar Sahara Conference — **Samba Daly Fall’s clutch three gave ASC Ville de Dakar their first win of the Sahara Conference.**

For JCA Kings, however, the learning curve has been steep. Still searching for their first win, they face a daunting schedule ahead against Al Ahly and ASC Ville de Dakar. These are two sides on the brink of qualification. Their 55-point performance against FUS Rabat remains the lowest-scoring output of the 2026 BAL season, underscoring their offensive struggles.

The Road to Kigali

With the Sahara conference set to conclude on Sunday, the stakes could not be higher. Four teams will advance to Kigali, joining the Kalahari Conference qualifiers: RSSB Tigers, Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly Ly, and Dar City.

Club Africain have already punched their ticket. The remaining three spots are still up for grabs. FUS Rabat and Al Ahly are each just one win away from securing qualification. Behind them, ASC Ville de Dakar and Maktown Flyers remain within striking distance, ready to capitalise on any slip.

BAL Sahara Conference hits miday point Read More »

Can Al Ahly be impactful in return to BAL?

A Legacy Born in 1930

The club was founded in 1930 and is one of the oldest basketball clubs in Africa. This is a club that has seen nearly a century of Egyptian and African basketball history unfold.

The 2023 BAL title was the club’s second African title after their triumph in the 2016 FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Cairo. In that 2016 victory, they became the first Egyptian team to win the competition in two decades.

Ehab Amin and Omar Oraby April 2026 — **Ehab Amin and Omar Oraby were part of the 2023 Al Ahly team that won the BAL. Pictures: BAL**

The Return

Al Ahly’s last appearance in the BAL was in 2024, where they reached the playoffs but fell short of defending their 2023 title. They entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed. After winning the Nile Conference with a 5-1 record, including a dominant 94-71 closing win over Bangui Sporting Club. But their campaign ended unexpectedly in the quarterfinals with an 86-77 defeat to Libya’s Al Ahly Ly at BK Arena in Kigali.

Domestically, the 2023-24 season was equally frustrating. The Reds lost both the Premier League and the Egyptian Cup final to rivals Al Ittihad Alexandria.

The 2025 season saw them miss out on BAL qualification entirely, a rare stumble for a club accustomed to dominating Egyptian and African basketball.

Al Ahly secured their return by winning the 2024-25 Egyptian Basketball Super League, capturing their eighth national title with a hard-fought 3-2 finals series win over rivals Al Ittihad Alexandria.

The Roster

The roster has significant new faces. Jonathan Jordan, a former FUS Rabat guard, arrives to run the show. The naturalised Democratic Republic of Congo point guard is no stranger to the BAL. He played for FUS Rabat in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, averaging 14.4 points, 4.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game across 14 BAL appearances while shooting efficiently from the field.

Another notable new face is that of Osayi Osifo, who last played for the Austin Spurs in the G League. The 6’9″ forward has no prior BAL experience. However, his G League resume includes averages of 5.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in the 2025-26 season with the Spurs.

Egyptian national team big man Ahmed Khalaf also crosses over from rivals Al-Ittihad Alexandria, adding size and interior presence.

Head coach Linos Gavriel signed a two-year deal with Al Ahly in July 2025, replacing Agustín Julbe. The seasoned coach made his mark on African basketball in the 2010s by coaching Tunisian side Etoile Sportive de Rades to second place in the 2014 FIBA Africa Champions Cup, and the previous year led Etoile Sportive du Sahel to the same position.

He also led Bahraini side Manama Club to the 2023 FIBA West Asia Super League title. In his first full campaign with Al Ahly, he delivered a domestic championship, guiding the club to their eighth Super League title. Assistant coach Ahmed El Beltagy remains from the 2023 BAL championship staff, providing continuity between the old regime and the new.

Jonathan Jordan Al Ahly media day — **New signing Jonatnan Jordan will bring energy to the point guard position for Al Ahly.**

The Sahara Conference

Al Ahly will open their campaign today against Club Africain, before facing ASC Ville de Dakar, Maktown Flyers, JCA Kings, and finally FUS Rabat in the Moroccan capital. The final game against hosts FUS Rabat is already being billed as a must-watch. When the two sides last faced off during the 2024 season, FUS Rabat emerged victorious with an 89-78 win at BK Arena in Kigali.

This game will see Jonathan Jordan facing his former team, bringing insider knowledge of FUS Rabat’s system and tendencies. Jordan spent two seasons with the Moroccan club, leading them to back-to-back quarterfinal appearances. He knows every set, every defensive rotation, and exactly how they operate in the clutch. That intelligence could prove invaluable in a tournament where margins are razor-thin.

Can They Win the BAL Title?

The 2023 champions bring back the DNA of a title team. Ehab Amin’s offensive command, Seif Samir’s rim protection, and the defensive identity that defined their success. But the 2024 quarterfinal exit proved that pedigree alone guarantees nothing.

What makes this roster compelling is the blend of BAL experience and fresh firepower.

Coach Gavriel, who delivered an unbeaten domestic campaign, now faces his ultimate test on the continental stage, where one bad game can end a season. The pieces fit. The hunger is there. Whether that translates to a second crown depends on whether this blended roster of veterans and newcomers can develop chemistry fast enough in the eight-day tournament.

In a conference where every team earned their place through blood and sweat, there are no soft matchups. History says never count Al Ahly out. The 2026 BAL will reveal if history repeats.

Can Al Ahly be impactful in return to BAL? Read More »

Author name: Sandisiwe Msibi