AL Ahly are one of the favourites ahead of Season 4 of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). They also head to the tournament as defending champions. The Big Tip Off offers some insights into one of Africa’s premiere teams in basketball.
Team: Al Ahly
Country: Egypt
History: One of Egypt’s great sporting institutions, Al Ahly has seven Egyptian Super League titles, 11 Egyptian Cup trophies, and four continental titles.
The Egyptian giants won the Basketball Africa League Season 3 title, a FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup and two African Basketball Cup Winners Cups.
Route To BAL: Egypt are one of six countries whose clubs have direct entry to the BAL, and as champions of their country, Al Ahly will defend the (BAL) title they won last year in their debut season.
Coach: Spanish coach Agustì Julbe will lead Al Ahly in their quest to defend their title. During his coaching career, Julbe has contributed to winning titles as an assistant coach. As head coach, he has also delivered silverware.
While at Barcelona, he contributed to a Euroleague trophy, three ACB League titles, three Spanish Cup trophies and three Spanish Super Cups as an assistant coach.
As coach of Zamalek, he won a league and cup, and when he took over the reins at Al Ahly, Julbe won back-to-back league and cup titles.
In the inaugural season of the BAL, he led Al Ahly’s rivals, Zamalek, to the championship. He did likewise with Al Ahly last year.
Star Player: Ahab Amin is one of the stars of the Egyptian game. The Egyptian international was one of Al Ahly’s leading scorers in their BAL title-winning season last year.
The shooting guard averaged 12.7 points per game. He was among the team’s top players in other statistical categories. Amin averaged 3.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds, and led the team in steals (averaging 1.9).
