With just hours to go, each of the eight teams that are in Kigali for the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs have announced their final rosters. The eight-team playoffs show gets underway on Saturday, May 20, and will run through Saturday, May 27, at BK Arena. While there are no changes registered at coaching positions, a few players have been let go and some were added onto the rosters. Six teams made significant changes compared to their conference campaigns except Ferroviario da Beira and Petro de Luanda who kept their entire rosters from the Nile Conference. Weekend Sport compiles the updated final rosters for the continental club basketball showdown. Rwanda Energy Group (Rwanda) Final roster: Adonis Filer, Cleveland Thomas Jr, Pitchou Manga, Delwan Graham, Olivier Shyaka, Jean Jacques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, Ntore Habimana, Dieudonne Ndizeye, Pascal Nyonkuru, Jean Umuhoza, Ulrich Chomche. In: Axel Mpoyo. Out: Prince Muhizi. Head coach: Dean Murray Axel Mpoyo is a regular member of the Rwandan national team. He contributed 5.5 points per game for REG during the 2022 Sahara Conference. ALSO READ: Mpoyo added to REG roster for BAL playoffs Abidjan Basket Club (Ivory Coast) Final roster: Abdoulaye Harouna, Stephane Konate, Ulrich Kra, Faman Koné, Moussa Koné, Hamadou Sylla, Mike Fofana, Ismael Diarra, Kouadio Yao, Joy Ighouoja. In: Omar Abada, Tylor Ongwae and Ousmane Drame. Out: Don Alex Robinson Jr, Chris Obekpa and Chudier Bile. Head coach: Liz Mills. Tunisian international player Omar Abada is returning to the BAL after helping US Monastir to finish in second place of the inaugural BAL season after losing the final to Egyptian side Zamalek. Just like Abada, Ousmane Drame is set to appear in the BAL for the second time, having featured for AS Salé, then under Mills, last season. Meanwhile, Tylor Ongwae is new to the BAL. He last played for Parma in the VTB United League. Ongwae played under Mills during her tenure at the helm of Kenya national team. Al Ahly (Egypt) Final roster: Amr Zahran, Nuni Omot, Ehab Amin, Amr Gendy, Seinfeldin Said, Corey Webster, Michael Thompson, Mohamed Abdelkawy, Omar Oraby, Dramane Camara, Ahmed Desouki. In: Michael Fakuade and Omar Azab. Out: Ahmed Ismail. Head coach: Augustin Bosch. Michael Fakuade isn’t new to the competition. The Nigerian-American was part of the BAL-winning Zamalek squad in 2021. Fakuade, who is reuniting with coach Agustin Bosch, contributed a game-high 15 points off the bench to help Zamalek beat US Monastir in the 2021 BAL Final. Cape Town Tigers (South Africa) Final roster: Samkelo Cele, Evans Ganapamo, Somusa Mthembu, Liam Reid, Dylan Whitbread, Lebesa Selepe, Nkosinathi Sibanyoni, Zaire Wade, Pieter Prinsloo, Lebohang Mofokeng, Parby Musongela, Michael Gbinije. In: Marvin Smith Jr. Out: Joshua Hall. Head coach: Rasheed Abdulrahman. As Douanes (Senegal) Final roster: Jean Jacque Boissy, Alkaly Ndour, Samba Fall, Madiara Dieng, Mamadou Lamine Diop, Mouhamadou Diagne, Bara Diagne, Chris Crawford, Bryan Osei, Khaman Maluach, Michael Ifeanyichukwu. In: Adama Diakhite and Pape Maguet Diop. Out: Terrell Stoglin and Cheikh Ahmet Kamara. Head coach: Mamdou Gueye. Adama Diakhite made his BAL debut last season with Dakar Université Club (DUC). The 2.05m left-handed center led DUC with team-highs 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Stade Malien (Mali) Final roster: Souleymane Berthe, Namakan Traore, Tamandjan Konate, Mamadou Keita, Aliou Diarra, Makan Keita, Mohamed Pare, Soumalia Sissouma, Kelvin Amayo, Rueben Chinyelu, John Wilkins. In: Gregory Foste rand Ibrahima Diallo Out: Oumar Bakayoko and Brian Brigeforth. Head coach: Kaba Kante. Ferroviario Da Beira (Mozambique) Final roster: Hilario Malale, Ismale Nurmamade, Ayad Munguambe, Bourama Sidibe, Celio Chirombe, Daniel Mutacate, Elvis Houana, Najael Young, Luis de Barros, William Perry, Tomas Fijamo, Makhtar Gueye, and Paul Mbiya. Head coach: Luis Hernandez. Petro De Luanda (Angola) Final roster: Gerson Domingos, Childe Dundao, Carlos Morais, Jone Pedro, Souleyman Diabate, Glofate Buiamba, Aboubacar Gakou, Gerson 'Lukeny' Goncalves, Pedro Bastos, Damian Hollis, Anadji Chime, Ater Majok and Seifeldin Hendawy. Head coach: Jose Neto.
