DAKAR (Senegal) - The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has announced that the third BAL season will tip off on Saturday, March 11, and will once again feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing a total of 38 games in Dakar, Senegal; Cairo, Egypt and Kigali, Rwanda over three months in 2023.

During the 2023 BAL season, the 12 club champions will be divided into two conferences. The Sahara Conference will play a 15-game group phase at the Dakar Arena in Dakar from March 11 to 21, and the Nile Conference will play a 15-game group phase at the Hassan Mostafa Indoor Sports Complex in Cairo from April 26 to May 6. The top four teams from each conference will advance to an eight-game, single elimination Playoffs and Finals at BK Arena in Kigali from May 21-27. 

Fans can register their interest in tickets at bal.nba.com.  Tickets will go on sale in early 2023.

"After the BAL's successful expansion to three iconic African cities last season, we are excited to welcome back our fans in Dakar, Cairo and Kigali in 2023," said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. 

"The caravan format envisioned when we launched the BAL allowed more fans to experience the excitement of this world-class league up close and in-person. We look forward to building on the success of our second season and continuing to deliver an authentic African sport and entertainment product that inspires and connects people across the continent and around the world."

"We are thrilled to announce the third season of the BAL," said FIBA Africa and BAL Board President Anibal Manave. "Returning to the three host cities for the second consecutive season will build on our consistent efforts to develop African basketball in a sustainable way. With the high level of competition during the Road to the BAL qualifying tournaments, we look forward to a great performance from the new teams who will make their BAL debut next year."

National league champions from 12 African countries once again have qualified for the BAL, including through the Road to BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA's Regional Office Africa across the continent, which took place from October 11 to November 27, 2022.

Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand and Wilson will return as BAL Foundational Partners. The league's roster of world-class marketing partners also includes Hennessy and Envol City.

The BAL teams and additional details about the 2023 BAL season will be announced in the coming months.

FIBA