BAL Qualifying Tournaments

The Road to BAL, also known as the BAL Qualifying Tournaments, are the qualifying tournaments of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). While the main tournament is co-organised by FIBA and the NBA, the organization of the qualifiers is completely done by FIBA. The first qualifying rounds began on 16 October 2019 during the 2021 BAL qualification.

The qualifiers are geographically divided into the West and East Division, with three teams qualifying out of each division. Semi-finals and finals are played to determine the winners of the qualifying tournaments.

History

The first BAL qualifying game was played on October 16, 2019, in the qualification for the 2021 season. The City Oilers from Uganda defeated Dynamo 71–57 in Dar es Salaam.

During the second season, the name "Road to BAL" was used for the first time, which would later become the event name.

The following years, the competition was held in different venues in several countries, but held the same format which led to six teams qualifying for the main tournament.

Format

The national champions of each national federation (associated with FIBA Africa) can sign up for the BAL qualifiers.

In the inaugural edition, a total of 31 teams from 31 countries participate in the qualifying tournaments to determine which six teams will play in the 2020 BAL regular season, along with six directly placed six teams.

The qualifying tournaments are divided into the first round and the Elite 16; teams are also divided into the East Division and the West Division. Out of each division, three teams advance to the main tournament.

Venues

The qualifying rounds are usually played in groups of four to six teams that play each other once in a venue in a pre-determined location. The following arenas have hosted at least one group in either the first round or elite 16:

Results

East Division

West Division

Performance by country

As of November 2024, 13 different clubs from 12 countries have qualified for the BAL's main tournament. As of the 2023 season, Nigeria, Rwanda, Egypt, Senegal and Tunisia are given a bye for the qualifiers as they qualify directly for the BAL. In 2021, Morocco was also given an automatic spot.

All-time participants

The following is a list of clubs who have played in the BAL Qualifying Tournaments at any time since its formation in 2019, or will play in the upcoming season.

All-time record by club

:''As of 8 October 2022.''

Records

Team records

* Best performance by record:
** Patriots in the 2019 qualification (9–0)
* Largest win
** 96 points difference ( Ferroviário da Beira 132–36 Roche-Bois Warriors) on October 22, 2021
** 83 points difference ( Djabal Iconi 37–120 KPA) on October 22, 2022
** 77 points difference (KPA 131–54 Usoni Club) on November 1, 2019
* Most points scored in a game
** 131 by KPA (131–54 vs. Usoni Club) on November 1, 2019
* Fewest points scored in a game
** 36 by Roche-Bois Warriors (vs. Ferroviário da Beira) on October 30, 2019

Individual records

* Most points scored in a game
** 45 by Baraka Athumani, JKT (vs. Dynamo) on October 20, 2019
** 40 by Falando Jones, City Oilers (vs. Cape Town Tigers) on November 26, 2022
** 39 by Mohamed Ali Halder, Al-Nasr (vs. FAP). on November 26, 2019
* Most rebounds in a game
** 26 by Michael Mukumbutaa, Lions Windhoek (vs. UNZA Pacers) on October 27, 2019
** 22 by Ameh Eric Ejeh, ASPAC (vs. Nigelec) on October 30, 2019
* Most assists in a game
** 12 by Stephane Mshana, JKT (vs. Dynamo) on October 20, 2019
** 12 by Solo Diabate, Al Ahly Benghazi (vs. FAP) on November 5, 2023
* Most steals in a game
** 9 by Abdoulaye Harouna, Nigelec (vs. FAP) on November 28, 2019
* Most blocks in a game
** 9 by Frank Kamndoh Betoudji, Virunga (vs. FAP) on October 9, 2023
* Most 3-point field goals made in a game
** 9 by Timothy Kwaor, Nigelec (vs. NPA Pythons) on November 1, 2019
*Oldest player to play in a game
**James Truman Bedeah, Mighty Barrolle at 45 years old in the 2025 BAL qualification

Notes

References

{{Basketball Africa League

Basketball in Africa
Qualifying