The Basketball Africa League (BAL) resumes its 2026 season in Morocco, with the Sahara Conference set to begin in Rabat on April 24, 2026.
According to the league’s official announcement, the Sahara Conference will be hosted at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, from April 24 to May 3, 2026.
The 2026 BAL season, as well known as BAL Season 6, began on March 27, 2026, in Pretoria, South Africa, and will conclude with the finals on May 31, 2026, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
Fifteen games had been completed in the BAL season prior to the Sahara Conference, which marks the next phase of the competition.
The BAL confirmed that the playoffs and finals will be held in Kigali for a fifth consecutive year under a long-term agreement with the Rwanda Development Board.
The 2026 season features 12 teams divided into East and West divisions, following the qualification process outlined in the 2026 BAL qualification rounds.
In the West Division, teams qualified through group stage performances in Cape Verde, Libya, Mali, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gabon, DR Congo, and the Central African Republic.
In the East Division, direct qualifications were granted to Cameroon and Kenya, while Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Mozambique, and Zambia advanced through group stage results.
The BAL Sahara Conference in Rabat will feature six top African clubs, including FUS Rabat, Al Ahly from Egypt, Club Africain, ASC Ville de Dakar, JCA Kings, and Maktown.
The winners of the 2026 BAL season will earn the right to compete in the 2026 FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Al Ahli Tripoli were the reigning champions entering the 2026 season but had not yet qualified for the competition at the time of the Sahara Conference announcement.
The league emphasized that the return to Morocco highlights the growing footprint of basketball across the African continent.
Games during the Sahara Conference will be played according to local time in Rabat, which is UTC+0.
Fans can follow the BAL Sahara Conference through official league channels for updates on schedules, results, and standings.
The next confirmed checkpoint in the 2026 BAL season is the conclusion of the Sahara Conference on May 3, 2026, after which the playoffs will proceed in Kigali.
Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Basketball Africa League as the 2026 season unfolds.
