Basketball is rolling right in East Africa. It is pretty a fact, considering that the number of participants representing the region at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) continues to grow season after season. At first, it was just one team (Patriots) in the region. Then, two seasons later, the number increased to two (REG and City Oilers); now a new history was written last weekend after it was confirmed that a record three teams from Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda will grace the BAL Season Four. The City Oilers of Uganda and Burundi's Dynamo BBC have collectively secured spots for the tournament through division qualifiers, joining Rwanda’s APR who have an automatic ticket considering that the country is hosting part of the competition. ALSO READ: Who made it to the BAL 2024? The BAL Season Four will take place across three cities. Johannesburg (South Africa) will host the first of its kind Kalahari Conference in March, 2024 while Cairo (Egypt) will host the Nile Conference in April. Dakar (Senegal)will then host Sahara Conference in May. The Conference games will decide teams that will fly to Kigali for the Playoff Final 8 which will take place at BK Arena in May-June, 2024. APR and Dynamo will be making their debut appearance in the competition, while City Oilers are returning for the second time in a row. Here is how the three East African representatives made it to the BAL 2024: APR The army side was crowned champions of Rwanda in September, sweeping rivals Rwanda Energy Group (REG) in the finals to clinch the 2023 Rwanda Basketball League championship. The victory not only brought their 14-year title jinx to an end but it also earned them an automatic ticket to BAL 2024. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Basketball: APR clinch first championship in 14 years City Oilers The Ugandan champions are making their second consecutive appearance in the competition. They secured the ticket for this year’s edition after finishing second to Cape Town Tigers in the Elite 16 Eastern Division qualifiers that concluded in Johannesburg on Sunday. In 2023, City Oilers competed in the Nile Conference but they weren’t able to make it to the playoffs and finals in Kigali. ALSO READ: Uganda’s City Oilers qualify for BAL 2024 Dynamo Basketball Club Burundi's Dynamo Basketball Club earned the last of the three tickets that were available in the Eastern Division qualifiers after defeating Madagascar's COSPN 79-78 in a thrilling Third-Place Game on Sunday. ALSO READ: Burundi's Dynamo qualify for BAL 2024 This record-breaking representation from East Africa not only promises an exciting and competitive BAL 2024 tournament but it is also leaving a statement that basketball game is on the rise in the region. Sooner or later, the championship will come to East Africa.
