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Ozabor ready to take giant career leap
JOSHUA Ozabor explains that two years ago, while playing in South Africa’s national club championship, he was naive about how serious the competition was and what it would have meant had the team he played for won the final.
Gonçalves, Gakou and Dundão fuelling Petro’s success
GERSON Gonçalves, Aboubakar Gakou, and Childe Dundão; three names that have become synonymous with excellence across the Basketball Africa League. Shooting, playmaking, defensive intensity, control, and that unmistakable Angolan flair, but none of this was guaranteed.
Thrills and records of the Kalahari Conference
AFTER 10 days of intense basketball, high-scoring and record-breaking feats characterised the BAL’s Kalahari Conference. The Big Tip Off’s Sandisiwe Msibi highlights the moments which shaped the Conference, which ended on Sunday in Pretoria, South Africa.
All to play for in the Kalahari Conference
WITH three game days remaining, the BAL Kalahari Conference has begun to separate, but not entirely settle. Through the opening stretch, identities have taken shape, margins have emerged, and for some, urgency is already unavoidable.
Sky is the limit for Zouzoua and DarCity
THE Kalahari Conference has highlighted the BAL’s depth of talent across every position. However, based on the opening stretch of games, Nisre Zouzoua has already made a strong case to be recognised among the standout performers of the opening leg.
Mpoyo, Tigers set on keeping BAL trophy in Rwanda
THE last time Axel Mpoyo stepped onto the floor at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, he delivered one of the defining performances of Season 5 of the BAL; an electric 8-for-9 shooting display from beyond the arc to secure APR BBC and Rwanda’s first-ever BAL podium finish.
Al Ahly LY give themselves a lifeline
THE Libyan champions, Al Ahly Benghazi, endured a nightmare start to their Basketball Africa League season campaign, dropping their first two games in the Kalahari Conference and raising early concerns about an early exit from the tournament.
Can Giants dig themselves out of 0-2 hole?
THE Johannesburg Giants have endured a difficult start to their Basketball Africa League Season 6 campaign, going winless in the Kalahari Conference. However, they still have a chance to reach the playoffs in Kigali this May – though that opportunity is quickly slipping away.
Lights, camera… It’s Dim time
NINO Dim had to rewind his mind to a decade ago when asked if he knew he would one day pursue a basketball career. He remembers asking a former University of Johannesburg teammate if it was possible for them to become pros one day, and understandably, his friend laughed the idea off.
The evolution of floor general Dundão
OVER the past two years, you cannot speak about Angolan basketball without mentioning Childe Dundão. During this period, he has become a key figure in the sport, essential to the country’s ongoing success and competitiveness. His leadership and consistent contributions were felt at every level of the game.
Giants vs DarCity: A battle of tacticians
THE Giants, as a club, are new to the BAL scene, but they have individuals familiar with the rough and tough of the six-year-old tournament. The experienced Florsheim Ngwenya led the now-defunct Cape Town Tigers to a historic run, which began at the Kalahari Conference in South Africa (in 2024) and ended at the semi-finals in Rwanda.
Petro de Luanda: A model of consistency in the BAL
For decades, excellence has defined Angolan basketball. Their clubs have consistently placed the Southern African nation on the map. Today, at the centre of that tradition is Petro de Luanda, a model of consistency in the BAL. Since the league’s inception in 2021, Petro has always finished in the top four.
Mali’s shaky path to qualifying for Women’s World Cup
THE Mali women’s team will return to Bamako with a great sense of relief. It follows their dramatic qualification for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany (4-13 September). On their way to reaching a third World Cup, Mali were jittery and then nervously waited to secure their spot.
Bargny Basket Club aiming for Senegal’s big leagues
ENTERING the Bargny Basket Club’s facility in the Bargny Commune, located 50 km outside Dakar, Senegal, you observe girls and boys practising their drills under the supervision of the club’s coaches. Amidst the bouncing of basketballs inside the enclosed centre, this writer noticed a distinct work of art, a mural.
Mali’s building blocks could pay off at World Cup qualifiers
MALI has enjoyed an upward trajectory in international basketball, and one of the programmes contributing to the West African nation’s success is the senior women’s team, which is vying for a spot in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany this year.
Can Senegal emerge from the shadows in Puerto Rico?
SENEGAL Women’s National Basketball Team – commonly known as the Lionesses – have qualified for eight FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup tournaments. Ahead of their qualifying campaign in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the question is whether the West African side can secure a ninth appearance at this year’s tournament in Germany.
Can Bright Starlets defy the odds at the World Cup qualifiers?
SOUTH Sudan’s Bright Starlets have been a surprise in African basketball. The East African nation got a wildcard entry to AfroBasket 2025, marking their debut in the women’s continental championship. Defying expectations, the Bright Starlets climbed all the way to the podium.
A look at Group D of the FIBA World Cup Africa Qualifiers
THE FIBA Basketball World Cup Africa Qualifiers are set resume with Group B action taking place in Cairo, Egypt and the Pharaohs will welcome 2025 AfroBasket champions Angola, AfroBasket finalists Mali, and Uganda, all looking to get a head start in the first round. Ahead of the qualifiers, The Big Tip Off’s Sindiswa Mabunda reviews the Group B teams and what they will bring to court when the qualifiers begin.
