Kigali is once again preparing to host the Basketball Africa League Playoffs, with eight teams set to battle for the coveted continental title at BK Arena. The playoff contenders secured qualification through the Kalahari Conference in South Africa and the Sahara Conference in Morocco. Rwanda will be represented by RSSB Tigers, who advanced after an impressive campaign in the Kalahari Conference, where they finished top of the standings with a 4-1 record. As the playoffs approach, here are some key things to know ahead of the competition: Quarterfinals to feature two-game series For the first time in BAL history, the quarterfinals will be played over a two-game series format, with the team holding the superior aggregate score progressing to the semifinals. No defending champions For only the second time in BAL history, the defending champions will not feature in the playoffs. A similar scenario occurred in 2023 when US Monastir failed to progress from the Sahara Conference. This year, reigning champions Al Ahli Tripoli did not qualify for the 2026 BAL season. Reigning MVP ruled out Apart from the 2025 BAL season, when Jo Lual Acuil returned to defend his MVP crown, no BAL MVP has returned for the playoffs after winning the award the previous season. The trend continues this year. Jean Jacques Boissy, who guided Al Ahli Tripoli to the 2025 BAL title and won MVP honours, featured for Alahly Ly during the 2026 Kalahari Conference in Pretoria. However, a foot injury has ruled him out of this season’s playoffs. Familiar coaching faces Among the eight head coaches in this year’s playoffs, only Mamadou Gueye of Dar City and Said El Bouzadi of FUS Rabat have previously reached this stage of the competition. Gueye, a Senegalese coach, won the 2023 BAL Coach of the Year award after leading AS Douanes to a runners-up finish. He now takes charge of Tanzanian side Dar City. El Bouzadi, meanwhile, is in his third consecutive BAL campaign with FUS Rabat. The Moroccan tactician also coached AS Sale during the inaugural 2021 BAL season and has guided both clubs to the quarterfinals across his four appearances in the competition. Diabate, only player to win BAL twice Solo Diabate of ASC Ville de Dakar is the only player in this season’s BAL field to have won the competition twice. He lifted the title with Zamalek in 2021 and with US Monastir in 2022. Michael Fakuade is the only other player in BAL history to have achieved the feat, with his last appearance in the league coming in 2023. Dar City’s historic rise Dar City have emerged as one of the season’s surprise packages. Alongside Alahly Ly, they advanced from the FIBA-organised Road to BAL qualifiers to the main BAL season. Despite entering the playoffs with a negative 2-3 record, Dar City became the only team in the 2026 BAL playoffs to qualify with more defeats than victories, underlining the competitiveness of this year’s tournament.
