Al Ittihad have secured qualification for the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL) after defeating Stade Malien 90-71 in the West Division Elite 16 semi-finals, becoming the third Libyan club to reach the continental competition. The victory means Al Ittihad join fellow Libyan sides Al Ahli Tripoli and Al Ahly Benghazi as the country's representatives to have qualified for the BAL. The achievement also marks another milestone for head coach Fouad Bou Chakra, who has now guided a second team to the BAL. Al Ittihad took control of a closely contested first half, with Ismael Romero leading the charge through his physical presence in the paint. The power forward made an impressive start, scoring 10 points in the opening quarter as he helped the Libyans establish an early advantage. Keron DeShields provided additional firepower in the second quarter, finishing with a game-high 25 points as Al Ittihad went into halftime with a 34-29 lead. Stade Malien attempted to fight back after the break, with Rolly Fula and Makan Keita scoring early baskets in the third quarter. However, Al Ittihad gradually took control as their outside shooting came to life. Ivan Almeida, DeShields, Mohamed Sadi and Deng Deng all connected from beyond the arc, allowing the Libyan side to build a double-digit advantage. By the middle of the fourth quarter, Al Ittihad had stretched their lead into the 20s, effectively putting the contest beyond Stade Malien's reach. Deng contributed 19 points, while Romero added 17. Sadi also delivered an all-round performance, finishing with 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. The victory marked Al Ittihad's second consecutive win over Stade Malien in the current campaign. The Libyan side had also beaten the Malian outfit 75-67 in Tripoli in October. Al Ittihad will now look to complete their Elite 16 campaign on a high note as they prepare for their maiden appearance in the 2027 BAL season.
