The group phase of the Basketball Africa League’s (BAL) fourth season moves to its final round, with the Sahara Conference slated to be held at the Dakar Arena in Senegal.
Like the two previous conferences (Kalahari and Nile), four teams have been drawn in the Sahara Conference, which comprises hosts and last season’s finalist AS Douanes (Senegal), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), APR (Rwanda), and 2022 champion US Monastir of Tunisia.
Twelve games will be played in the conference, with all four teams playing twice against each other in a round-robin format that kicks off on Saturday, May 4, and ends on Sunday, May 12.
What is at stake in the Sahara Conference
The top two sides are guaranteed an automatic spot in the playoffs slated for the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, later this month.
Meanwhile, the third-placed team will battle Bangui Sporting Club (Nile Conference) for the final spot in the playoffs, after the Cape Town Tigers (Kalahari Conference) booked a spot due to a better points differential.
The #BAL4 Sahara Conference (Dakar, Senegal) is coming soon and will take place from May 4 to May 12 at the Dakar Arena! 🇸🇳🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/aPxGya0SmH
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) April 18, 2024
When is tip-off for the Sahara Conference
The Sahara Conference will get underway on May 4, with Tunisian champions US Monastir taking on BAL debutants APR in the opening game. Almost immediately, hosts AS Douanes will lock horns against Nigerian champions Rivers Hoopers.
Action will continue on Sunday, May 5, with APR opening play against the Hoopers, while for the second straight year in the Conference, Douanes and Monastir will face off.
All teams will take a day off before action returns to the hardwood as Monastir and Rivers Hoopers reignite their rivalry from the maiden edition. Douanes will then battle APR in the second fixture of the day.
Thursday, May 9, will see the second phase of the round-robin begin, where all four teams will play one another. APR will face US Monastir and Rivers Hoopers will take on AS Douanes.
