ASC Ville de Dakar

BAL Playoffs: Al Ahly Egypt vs ASC Ville de Dakar

New Playoff format

The quarter-finals are played as a two-game series. Both teams will play each other twice, and the one with the higher total score across both games moves on to the semifinals. If the aggregate score is tied, overtime will be played to determine the winner.

Now coaches have to think differently: do you push hard in Game 1 or save energy for Game 2? Do you risk foul trouble early, knowing there’s another game coming? Every point matters, even in a loss.

The four quarter-final winners then move on to single-elimination semi-finals, with the two winners there meeting in the championship game and the two semi-final losers playing for third place.

Ater Majok Ville de Dakar BAL 2026 — **Ater Majok brings energy to both ends of the floor. Pictures: The BAL**

Al Ahly Egypt

Al Ahly finished second in the Sahara Conference with four wins and one loss, posting a +38 point differential – the best in the Sahara Conference.

Their only defeat was a one-point heartbreaker to Club Africain, 68-69, in a game that came down to the final seconds. But they showed their resilience, and a day later, Al Ahly bounced back to beat this same Dakar. That win proved the Egyptians could handle adversity and find ways to close out games.

For ASC Ville de Dakar, the Senegalese champions arrive as the seventh-seeded team with a 3-2 record and a +16 point differential, stepping into uncharted territory with their first-ever playoff appearance and an opportunity to become only the second Senegalese team to reach the BAL semi-finals.

Their path to Kigali was anything but smooth. Two straight losses to Club Africain and Ahly put the pressure on, and Dakar responded by winning their final three games to earn their place in the playoffs.

They’re the third Senegalese team in BAL history. Back home, they’re back-to-back Senegal champions (2024 and 2025).

Why Al Ahly Could Win

Al Ahly could win this series. They have the psychological edge following the win over ASC during conference play, and they have the best shooters in the field. Zachary Lofton and Kevin Murphy can both go off on any night. Lofton dropped 32 against FUS Rabat, and Murphy averages 20.7 points on elite efficiency. If both of them shoot well from three across two games, this could end fast. The two-game format rewards the deeper, more explosive team, and that’s Al Ahly.

Zach Lofton Al Ahly BAL 2026 — **Zach Lofton put up some good numbers at the Sahara Conference.**

Why Dakar Could Pull the Upset

But don’t count Dakar out. They have three players who have won at the highest level. Solo Diabate has two BAL championships (2021 and 2022) under his belt, Ater Majok won the title and was the defensive player of the year in 2022, and Alex Toupane has an NBA championship. They already proved in Rabat that they can hang with Al Ahly for 40 minutes, even leading and tying the game in the fourth quarter.

X-Factors to Watch

Several elements could swing this series. Foul trouble for Majok or Diabate would negatively affect Dakar’s chances to drop immediately; they cannot afford to play significant minutes without their defensive anchor or floor general.

Three-point variance is critical. As Dakar shooting 35% or better from deep makes them competitive, while shooting below 25% puts them in serious trouble, given their inconsistent 5-for-21 performance against Club Africain.

The signing of Cape Verdean point guard Williams Tavares by AS and the 2023 BAL MVP Nuni Omot rejoining Al Ahly will raise the competitive bar for both teams.

Bench contributions matter significantly in a two-game format, and whichever team’s reserves can provide more points across two games will gain a major advantage.

Finally, the coaching battle between Gavriel and Gaye will test who can make the better in-series adjustments between Game One and Game Two.

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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.

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ASC, Monastir leading the way in the Sahara Conference

ASC Ville de Dakar: A home team shining on debut

Current form: 2-1

Strengths: Experience, strong defensive team and homecourt advantage

Weakness: Questionable squad depth

ASC Ville de Dakar has closed out tight games against reigning champions Petro de Luanda (65-64) and 2022 tournament winners US Monastir (70-67). In between the victories over Petro and Monastir, ASC lost a down-to-the-wire contest (66-63) to fellow debutants Kriol Star of Cape Verde.

They have a stingy defence led by the evergreen centre Ater Majok, who patrols the paint area like a hawk. At 37, the 2022 BAL Defensive Player of the Year again ranks in the top 10 in rebounds (fourth) and blocks (seventh) in BAL Season 5.

An astute defender, Majok, a champion with Monastir, is also a proven highlight reel on offence. In one of the plays of the tournament, he blocked an audacious poster dunk attempt by Petro’s Glofate Buiamba. In the same play, his legs carried him quickly down the court. He received a pass in the paint and leapt to the rim for a monster dunk. He finished the Wednesday night game against Petro with 14 points and six defensive rebounds.

Floor general Will Perry (17.5 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per game) had an off night against Petro, but he is still a dependable scorer and ball distributor. Sharp-shooter Abdoulaye Harouna (10.5 points per game, three rebounds and two assists per game) has offered consistency in scoring for ASC.

Outlook: ASC sits at the top of the standings, and for them to maintain their position and progress, they need the bench to step up. Players like Makhtar Gueye, who had a huge game against Petro (16 points and 11 rebounds), must have consistent production.

Majok and Harouna cannot play heavy minutes, as was the case against Petro.

Firas Lahyani US Monastir — **Firas Lahyani has been a dependable player for US Monastir**

US Monastir: Trying to recapture the magic of 2022

Current form: 2-1

Strengths: Accomplished veterans, good team chemistry

Weakness: If veterans don’t step up

US Monastir got off to a slow start, losing to home club ASC (70-67), but picked things up with wins over Petro (87-73) and Kriol Star (88-72). Since winning the BAL in 2022, Monastir has struggled to emulate the feats that made them African champions in recent BAL editions. They seem to have found their footing with their recruits stepping up.

Senegal’s Babacar Sane, averaging 14 points per game, brings a burst of youthful energy to Monastir’s lineup. The G-League standout made his presence felt in both wins, scoring 13 points against Kriol Star and an impressive 24 against Petro. Monastir will be counting on this level of production from Sane if they hope to make a serious run in the BAL.

Point guard Patrick Hardy has led the team in scoring (15.7 points per game) and has doled out dimes at a high rate (6.0 assists). Hardy’s production and solid contributions from Firas Layhani, Osiris Eldridge and Deng Acuoth have steered the Blue Empire in the right direction.

Outlook: Monastir seem to be on the right track, but if the ship needs steadying in the remaining three games, trusted veterans like Radhouane Slimane, Mourad El Mabrouk and Mokhtar Ghyaza can step up at any point.

Patrick Gardner in action at Sahara Conference — **Patrick Gardner is one of Petro’s scoring go-to-guys in the Sahara Conference.**

Petro de Luanda: Os Tricolores have challengers to their throne

Current form: 1-2

Strengths: Good pieces in every playing department

Weakness: Being in a comfort zone after winning the BAL title

Petro de Luanda has a different look, with Yannick Moreira assuming the leadership role from departed legend Carlos Morais.

Moreira, part of Petro’s BAL title-winning team last year, has to help ensure the wheels don’t come off this year. After the Angolan giants suffered back-to-back losses to US Monastir (87-73) and ASC (65-64), they find themselves in a precarious position. The defeats come after Petro steamrolled past Kriol Star 103-74 in the Sahara Conference’s opening game.

The win over Kriol Star may have glossed over Petro’s issue of defending threes and physical match-ups in the paint. Players like Osiris Eldridge of US Monastir made seven of his nine attempts from behind the arc. The host club’s Makhtar Gueye was four of five from the three-point line.

Ater Majok overpowered Patrick Gardner in the paint, a threat Moreira was able to deal with. Coach Sergio Moreno will have noted these areas of concern and used Wednesday’s off day to tighten the defensive frailties.

Outlook: Petro can get buckets. Moreira, Gardner, and EJ Anosike have established themselves as key players, stepping up when it matters most. With just three games remaining, they have a final chance to prove their worth – or risk becoming only the second defending champion to exit during the conference stage, a fate that befell Monastir last year.

Ivan Almeida Sahara Conference — **Ivan Almeida has been a leading scorer for Kriol Star.**

Kriol Star: A newcomer finding its feet on the big stage

Current form: 1-2

Strengths: Seasoned pros in their line-up

Weaknesses: Not enough quality on the bench

Kriol Star did well getting a W in the second game of their BAL debut versus home side ASC, but can the Cape Verde team build on that victory?

One of the weak points is getting rebounds. Small forward Ivan Almeida is one of Kriol Stars’ leading scorers (16 points per game). Apart from getting buckets, he also leads in crashing boards (10.7 rebounds per game) and blocks (1.0 blocks per game).

The lack of quality bigs to rebound and get blocks could count against Kriol Star, especially with the race to secure playoff spots to Pretoria, South Africa, hotting up.

It will be interesting to see what adjustments coach Hugo da Silva makes to resolve Kriol Stars’ front-court problems.

Outlook: They don’t lack in the scoring department, with Richaud Pack (18 points per game). In addition, Ivan’s brother Joel (12 points per game) is helping to rack up the points. But that is not enough to book a ticket to the playoffs.

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