After a brief break from action, BAL returns with Nile Conference play.
Games resumes on April 19 with a doubleheader, as Al Ahly Ly (Libya) battles Bangui Sporting Club (Central African Republic) at 10 a.m. ET. Then 2023 BAL champions Al Ahly (Egypt) faces off against the City Oilers (Uganda) at 1 p.m. ET.
Catch the game on NBA.com or the NBA App.
FUS de Rabat (Morocco) and Petro de Luanda (Angola) qualified for the playoffs in Kalahari Conference play last month. But which Nile Conference teams will join them?
Al Ahly Sporting Club
The Egyptian club has been on a tear over the last year. They defended their Egyptian Basketball Premier League title, then dominated the 2023 BAL season, winning the league.
Al Ahly also defeated the G League Ignite at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in September. The Ignite featured a handful of 2024 NBA Draft prospects, including Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis.
Last BAL season, Al Ahly finished 7-1 in the campaign, their only loss coming from a buzzer-beater from Petro de Luanda. The Egyptian squad then cruised through the playoffs and finals, claiming the trophy.
Al Ahly could be the first team in BAL history to win back-to-back titles. They return Ehab Amin, who averaged 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Al Ahly Ly
Al Ahly Ly makes their BAL debut this season. They qualified for the season by finishing third place in the Road to BAL West Division qualifiers. The Libyan club then defeated Cameroon’s FAP in the third-place playoff to secure their BAL spot.
Former Dallas Mavericks guard Pierre Jackson is a star for the Libyan club. He played in eight games for Dallas in the 2016-17 season and also spent four seasons in the G League with the Idaho Stampede, Texas Legends and South Bay Lakers.
Jackson is joined by Mouloukou Souleyman Diabate. Diabate played in the BAL last season for Petro de Luanda. He averaged 7.1 ppg and 4.4 apg and offers a veteran presence for Al Ahly Ly.
City Oilers
The Oilers made their BAL debut last season. The Ugandan team struggled, finishing 1-4 and failing to make the playoffs.
In The Road to BAL Tournament, the Oilers finished second in the East Division. They secured a spot in the BAL this season by making it to the final before falling to the Cape Town Tigers.
It could be a different story for the Oilers in their second BAL stint. This season, Dane Miller Jr. leads the Oilers. Miller Jr. was the second-leading scorer in the 2023 season at 21.2 ppg.
Khaman Maluach from the BAL Elevate program joins Miller on a solid roster. Maluach is a 2025 NBA Draft prospect and a 2024 commitment to Duke.
Bangui SC
The Central African Republic club is one of six teams that will make their BAL debut. Bangui shocked the world when it won the Road to BAL West Division qualification tournament. They upset Al Ahly Ly in the semifinals and FUS Rabat in the final to win the tournament and move on to the BAL.
Bangui is led by Yasser Billy Bertin Kamayengue. The 19-year-old averaged 11 ppg and 2.4 apg during the Road to BAL. Kamayengue scored 17 points in the finals to help lead Bangui to victory.
Former Cape Town Tiger star Evans Ganapamo returns to the BAL this season with Bangui. Last season with the Tigers, Ganapamo averaged 15.8 ppg and 4.5 rpg.
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Catch highlights, game recaps, all-access content, and action from the Nile Conference and the rest of the BAL season live on NBA.com and the NBA App.
