In 2025, Libyan giants Al Ahli Tripoli were crowned Basketball Africa League (BAL) champions. However, they failed to qualify for the 2026 edition after losing the domestic league title to their rivals, Al Ahly Benghazi. Al Ahly Benghazi, one of the oldest basketball clubs in Libya and Africa, now heads into BAL 2026 seeking redemption after their previous appearance in 2024. During that 2024 campaign, they made an impressive run to the final but fell 107–94 to Petro de Luanda in Kigali. As they return to the competition, Al Ahly Benghazi have strengthened their roster significantly and are widely considered a serious contender. Here are a few key things to know about them: A dominant qualifying campaign Al Ahly Benghazi’s intentions this season were evident in their flawless 2026 “Road to BAL” campaign, where they went undefeated. Their journey began in Bamako, Mali, where they posted a perfect 3–0 record, defeating hosts Centre de Référence de Basketball de Tombouctou, AS Douanes, and Centre Federal de Guinée. They continued their dominance in the Elite 16 West Division in Praia, Cape Verde, winning all four games to finish with a perfect 7–0 record. Last July, they were crowned 2025 Libyan League champions after sweeping BAL holders Al Ahli Tripoli 3–0 in the best-of-five finals. Strong roster and key signings Sofian Hamad, Adrees Zeew, and Asmaeil Aljahmi played crucial roles during the qualifiers and are expected to feature again in the 2026 Kalahari Conference, scheduled to take place in Pretoria, South Africa, from March 27 to April 5. The club has also been active in the transfer market, signing American shooting guards Damion Baugh and Donovan Williams, both with NBA experience. They have further reinforced their squad with Algerian power forward Mohamed Harat, a former GS Petroliers player from the 2021 BAL season, and 6'11 Australian-South Sudanese center Gorjok Gak. Experienced leadership At the helm is Egyptian coach Ahmed Soliman, who took charge at the start of the season. The 59-year-old previously guided Al Ittihad Alexandria to a fourth-place finish in the 2025 BAL season. As a player, he represented Egypt at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Why they are a team to watch The 2024 BAL final remains a painful memory for Al Ahly Benghazi, given how close they came to lifting the trophy. They arrived in Kigali for the playoffs in strong form, riding a three-game winning streak into the final against Petro de Luanda. However, losing the rebounding battle 47–32 proved decisive in their 107–94 defeat. Now, they have a second chance to make history—and will be aiming to keep the BAL trophy in Libya for a second consecutive year, following Al Ahli Tripoli’s 2025 triumph.
