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  Africa

  FIBA Intercontinental Cup: Beijing to Host the Tournament Through 2028

  The FIBA Intercontinental Cup is entering a new chapter. FIBA has officially announced that Beijing, China, will host the competition from 2026 to 2028, marking the first time the prestigious global club tournament will be staged in China. The move follows a successful three-year run in Singapore, which hosted the event between 2023 and 2025. Created in 1965, the Intercontinental Cup has evolved from a competition between a handful of continental champions into a truly global club championship. Beijing's selection reflects FIBA’s ambition to continue expanding the tournament’s international reach while capitalizing on China’s passion for basketball and proven experience in hosting major sporting events, including the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis described the decision as part of the organization’s mission to modernize and grow the competition, emphasizing Beijing’s ability to deliver world-class basketball events over the next three years. RSSB Tigers to Represent Africa in Beijing The announcement is particularly significant for African basketball. Following their historic BAL championship run, RSSB Tigers have already secured their place in the 2026 Intercontinental Cup and will represent Africa against champions from other regions of the world. Among the clubs already qualified for the 2026 edition are: RSSB Tigers (Basketball Africa League champions) Rytas Vilnius (Basketball Champions League Europe champions) Boca Juniors (Basketball Champions League Americas champions) Additional participants will be confirmed in the coming months. A Growing Global Competition Over its 35 editions, the Intercontinental Cup has welcomed clubs from six continents and become one of the most prestigious tournaments in world basketball. European clubs have historically dominated the competition with 24 titles, while Spain remains the most successful nation with 12 championships. For Africa, the tournament continues to provide an opportunity to measure its top clubs against the best teams from Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. After recent appearances by clubs such as Al Ahly SC, Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly Ly, the spotlight now turns to the RSSB Tigers as they prepare to carry Africa’s hopes onto the world stage in Beijing this September. The 2026 edition is scheduled to tip off in late September, opening a new era for one of basketball’s most prestigious club competitions.

  BALWorld
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  Africa

  BAL Playoffs 2026: RSSB Tigers Make History, Capture First - Ever Continental Title

  The RSSB Tigers etched their names into African basketball history on Sunday by winning the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) championship. Backed by a passionate home crowd at Kigali’s BK Arena, the Rwandan side rallied from a massive early deficit to defeat Petro de Luanda 90-88, becoming the first Rwandan club to lift the BAL trophy. The final appeared headed in Petro de Luanda’s direction from the opening minutes. The Angolan powerhouse, which was seeking its second BAL title and third consecutive finals victory, stormed out to a remarkable 20-0 start and led 27-16 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Tigers gradually clawed their way back into the contest, feeding off their defensive intensity and the energy of the home crowd. The comeback was fueled by a spectacular performance from Craig Randall II, who once again delivered on the biggest stage. After a slow start, the American guard caught fire in the second quarter and finished with a game-high 33 points, knocking down several crucial three-pointers and leading the Tigers’ offensive charge. His scoring explosion proved decisive as RSSB completed one of the most memorable comebacks in BAL Finals history. Petro de Luanda fought until the final buzzer behind a dominant outing from Aboubacar Gakou, who recorded 28 points and 12 rebounds, while Chasson Randle added 17 points. Despite controlling much of the game, the Angolan champions were unable to withstand the Tigers' late surge and fell just short of securing another continental crown. The victory caps a dream BAL debut season for RSSB Tigers, who become the first Rwandan team and the sixth different franchise to win the competition. For Petro de Luanda, the defeat marks a heartbreaking end to a campaign that saw them reach their fourth BAL Final in six seasons and their third consecutive championship game.

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  Africa

  BAL Playoffs 2026 : Petro de Luanda storms back against Al Ahly Ly to reach third straight BAL Final

  Petro de Luanda advanced to its third consecutive Basketball Africa League Final after defeating Al Ahly Ly 94-88 in a dramatic semifinal clash in Kigali. Trailing for most of the game, the Angolan champions produced a dominant fourth-quarter comeback to secure their fourth BAL Finals appearance in six seasons. The matchup was a rematch of the 2024 BAL Final, and for much of the contest, Al Ahly Ly appeared in control. The Libyan champions dictated the tempo through the first three quarters with aggressive offense and strong execution. However, the momentum completely shifted when Cleusio Castro threw down a thunderous dunk to give Petro a 75-73 lead with 7:13 remaining. From that moment on, Petro never trailed again. The game-changing spark came from the bench through Childe Dundao. Entering as Petro’s seventh man, Dundao transformed the flow of the game with his pace, energy, and playmaking. Alongside him, Gerson Gonçalves delivered a huge offensive performance to lead the Angolan giants back into the BAL Final. With the victory, Petro de Luanda now reaches the BAL Finals in 2022, 2024, 2025, and 2026, further cementing its legacy as one of Africa’s premier basketball dynasties. Petro will now face RSSB Tigers, who eliminated Al Ahly SC 106-97, in what promises to be an electric championship game in front of the Kigali crowd. Meanwhile, Al Ahly Ly will face Al Ahly in the third-place game after falling just short of reaching the club’s first-ever BAL Final.

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  BAL

  BAL Playoffs 2026 : RSSB Tigers defeat Al Ahly to reach historic first BAL Final

  RSSB Tigers continued their remarkable Basketball Africa League 2026 campaign by defeating Al Ahly 106-97 in the semifinals at a packed BK Arena in Kigali, securing the first BAL Finals appearance in club history. In a high-scoring and entertaining battle, the Tigers pulled away during the final five minutes after the game remained tightly contested for most of the night. The two teams were tied 50-50 at halftime before the Rwandan side gradually took control with its pace, energy, and offensive execution. The trio of Oumar Ballo, Craig Randall II, and Teafale Lenard Jr led the home side to the historic victory. Ballo dominated the paint with a massive double-double of 20 points and 17 rebounds, while Randall once again exploded offensively with 30 points, finishing just one three-pointer short of another BAL record. Returning from injury, Teafale Lenard Jr added 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in a huge all-around performance. On the other side, 2023 BAL champions Al Ahly stayed competitive behind Zack Lofton, who delivered an outstanding performance with 36 points and 5 assists. However, despite Lofton’s offensive brilliance, the Egyptian giants could not withstand the Tigers’ late surge and saw their hopes of returning to the BAL Final come to an end. With the victory, RSSB Tigers become the first Rwandan club ever to qualify for a BAL Final, continuing a dream season in front of their home fans in Kigali. They will now face the winner of the semifinal clash between Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly Ly in the championship game.

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  Africa

  BAL Playoffs 2026: Semifinal lineup confirmed after dramatic quarterfinal battles

  The semifinal lineup for the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) is officially set following a thrilling quarterfinal round at BK Arena in Kigali. Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly, RSSB Tigers and Al Ahly Ly all secured their spots in the Final Four after intense and dramatic playoff series. BAL powerhouse Petro de Luanda once again reached the semifinals, marking their sixth consecutive appearance in the league’s final four. After suffering an opening loss to Dar City, the Angolan giants responded with composure and experience in the decisive game to continue their remarkable BAL consistency. On the other side of the bracket, Al Ahly SC overcame a three-point deficit against ASC Ville de Dakar to punch their ticket to the semifinals. The Egyptian side relied on its experience and late-game execution to edge the Senegalese club after two highly competitive encounters. Backed by a passionate home crowd in Kigali, RSSB Tigers also advanced despite a narrow second-leg loss to FUS Rabat. Thanks to the cushion built in the first game and the outstanding performances of Craig Randall II throughout the series, the Rwandan side kept its championship dream alive on home soil. Meanwhile, Al Ahly Ly ended the impressive playoff run of Club Africain behind another explosive display from Jaylen Adams Moore. The Libyan guard once again dominated offensively and delivered in crucial moments to send his team into the BAL semifinals. BAL 2026 Semifinal Matchups Petro de Luanda vs Al Ahly RSSB Tigers vs Al Ahly Ly The semifinals now promise blockbuster clashes featuring some of the strongest contenders left in the race for the continental crown.

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  BAL

  BAL Playoffs 2026: Dar City stun Petro de Luanda in Kigali return

  Dar City produced one of the biggest early upsets of the 2026 Basketball Africa League playoffs by defeating Petro de Luanda in Kigali. In a tightly contested battle that went down to the final possessions, the Tanzanian side earned a statement victory against one of the tournament favorites. Fueled by defensive intensity and aggressive transition play, Dar City managed to withstand Petro’s momentum runs before taking control in the fourth quarter. The Tanzanian club showed remarkable composure in clutch moments, capitalizing on key turnovers and offensive mistakes from the Angolan giants. Petro de Luanda, one of the BAL’s most experienced teams, struggled to impose their usual rhythm throughout the game. Despite multiple comeback attempts late in the contest, the Angolan side failed to convert crucial possessions when it mattered most. The victory gives Dar City a dream start to its Kigali playoff campaign and further proves that the 2026 BAL Playoffs could deliver several major surprises in the race for the continental title.

  Africa