ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - This article answers every question you might have about the qualification tournament for the seventh edition of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), from participating teams and schedules to hosts and groups.
In short, this year's Road to BAL runs from October 21 and concludes with the Elite 16 tournament on November 22. It will feature four weeks of exciting basketball action on the continent.
Of the more than twenty teams that have confirmed their entry into the tournament so far, eight are making a comeback from last year.
Before the decisive Elite 16 round, the teams will be divided into East and West Divisions.
What will the groups be like in the 2027 Road to BAL?
Group A (21-25 October, Tripoli, Libya) - West Division
- Al Ittihad (Libya) - Stade Malie (Mali) - Nadi Staouedi (Algeria) - Nabaya (Guinea) - Kriol Star (Cape Verde) *The top two teams qualify for the Elite 16 West Division.
Group B (21-25 October, Tripoli, Libya) - West Division
- Energie BC (Benin) - AS Douanes (Burkina Faso) - Spintex Knights (Ghana) - NPA Pythons (Liberia) - Red Flames (Sierra Leone) *The top two teams qualify for the Elite 16 West Division.
Group C (24-28 October, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo) - West Division
- ASB Onatra (DR Congo) - FAP (Cameroon) - Espoir Basketball (Gabon) - Avenir du Rail (Republic of Congo) *The top two teams qualify for the Elite 16 West Division.
Group D (21-25 October, Hoima, Uganda) - East Division
- Urunani (Burundi) - Patriots Basketball Club (South Sudan) - Namuwongo Blazers (Uganda) - COSPN (Madagascar) - Ushundzi Basket (Comoros) *The top two teams qualify for the Elite 16 East Division.
Group E (27-31 October, Lusaka, Zambia) - East Division
- Munali Suns (Zambia) - Bravehearts (Malawi) - Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique) - Harare Kings (Zimbabwe) - TBD (South Africa) *The top two teams qualify for the Elite 16 East Division.
Elite 16 Round
As in 2024, Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) and Nairobi (Kenya) have been chosen to host the final Elite 16 tournament.
Nairobi will host the East Division Elite 16 (17-22 November), while Abidjan will host the West Division Elite 16 (10-15 November).
The top two teams in each conference will qualify for the 2027 BAL season.
The JCA Kings, who made their debut in the BAL season earlier this year, will host the West Division Elite 16.
Wild Cards
It is not out of the question that wild cards will be used to complete the 16-team Elite 16 Round.
FIBA