BAL: Nile Conference preview
After a short hiatus, BAL resumes with Nile Conference play.
The games will continue on April 19, starting with a doubleheader. The first match will be between Al Ahly Ly from Libya and Bangui Sporting Club from Central African Republic at 10 a.m. ET. This will be followed by a face-off between the 2023 BAL champions, Al Ahly from Egypt and the City Oilers from Uganda at 1 p.m. ET.
Watch the game on NBA.com or through the NBA App.
Last month, FUS de Rabat from Morocco and Petro de Luanda from Angola made it to the playoffs in the Kalahari Conference. However, it’s still uncertain which teams from the Nile Conference will join them.
Al Ahly Sporting Club
Over the past year, the Egyptian club has been in exceptional form. They successfully defended their title in the Egyptian Basketball Premier League and then went on to rule the 2023 BAL season, emerging as the league champions.
In September, at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, Al Ahly triumphed over the G League Ignite, a team that included several 2024 NBA Draft prospects such as Ron Holland and Matas Buzelis.
In the previous BAL season, Al Ahly ended the campaign with a 7-1 record. Their sole loss was due to a buzzer-beater from Petro de Luanda. The team from Egypt effortlessly progressed through the playoffs and finals to secure the trophy.
Al Ahly has the potential to make BAL history by becoming the first team to win titles consecutively. They are bringing back Ehab Amin, who has an average of 12.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Al Ahly Ly
This season marks the BAL debut for Al Ahly Ly. They earned their spot in the season by landing third place in the Road to BAL West Division qualifiers. The Libyan club secured their BAL position by triumphing over Cameroon’s FAP in the third-place playoff.
Pierre Jackson, a former guard for the Dallas Mavericks, is now a star player for a Libyan club. He had eight game appearances for Dallas in the 2016-17 season. Additionally, he spent four seasons in the G League, playing for the Idaho Stampede, Texas Legends, and South Bay Lakers.
Mouloukou Souleyman Diabate joins Jackson. Last season, Diabate played in the BAL for Petro de Luanda, averaging 7.1 points per game and 4.4 assists per game. He brings a seasoned presence to Al Ahly Ly.
City Oilers
Last season marked the BAL debut of the Oilers. The team from Uganda had a difficult time, with a disappointing 1-4 finish and missing out on the playoffs.
In The Road to BAL Tournament, the Oilers secured their spot in this season’s BAL by making it to the final and finishing second in the East Division, but were defeated by the Cape Town Tigers.
The Oilers may have a different narrative in their second BAL tenure. This season, they are led by Dane Miller Jr., who was the second-highest scorer in the 2023 season with an average of 21.2 points per game.
Khaman Maluach, a participant in the BAL Elevate program, becomes a part of Miller’s strong team. He is a potential candidate for the 2025 NBA Draft and has committed to Duke in 2024.
Bangui SC
The club from the Central African Republic is set to make its BAL debut as one of six teams. In a surprising turn of events, Bangui won the Road to BAL West Division qualification tournament, shocking everyone. They achieved victory over Al Ahly Ly in the semifinals and FUS Rabat in the finals, thus securing their place in the BAL.
Yasser Billy Bertin Kamayengue is the leader of Bangui. The 19-year-old had an average of 11 points per game (ppg) and 2.4 assists per game (apg) during the Road to BAL. He scored 17 points in the finals, contributing to Bangui’s victory.
Evans Ganapamo, ex-star of the Cape Town Tigers, is making a comeback to the BAL this season, playing for Bangui. During his last season with the Tigers, Ganapamo had an average of 15.8 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
***
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.
