BAL Season 4 Preview: Sahara Conference
What to expect from the four African teams that make up the Sahara Conference in the Basketball Africa League.
Right on the heels of the Nile conference, the third leg of the Basketball Africa League commences this week. Hosted in Dakar, Senegal, this conference features only teams who qualified directly for the competition; none of them had to play in the Road to BAL to get here. Additionally, all four teams have previous experience in the BAL. Competition will be from May 4-12 with each team in the conference playing the others twice.
Note: departures were not tracked for all teams.
Association Sportive des Douanes (A.S. Douanes)
Overview
The accomplished Senegalese club looks to build on their success from last season where they reached the BAL championship game, eventually falling to Al Ahly. A.S. Douanes typically boasts an impressive roster with many national team players and top imports.
Style of Play
AS Douanes plays active defense and gets into the gaps in an effort to create turnovers to jumpstart the transition. Offensively, they are driven by Jean Jacques Boissy, as just about every offensive action will go through him. The other weapon who will receive the majority of touches is Abdoulaye Harouna via a variety of off-ball screens and stagger actions.
Departures
Chris Crawford🇺🇸
Khaman Maluach🇸🇸
Madiara Deing🇸🇳
Matthew Bryan-Amaning 🇬🇭
Bars Ndiaye🇸🇳
Mouhamadou Diagne🇸🇳
Cheikh Ahmet Kamara🇸🇳
Terrell Stoglin🇺🇸
Pale Diop🇸🇳
Arrivals
Abdoulaye Harouna🇳🇪
Abdoul Aziz Sy🇸🇳
Mike Fofana🇨🇮
John Madut🇸🇸
Ibrahima Thomas🇸🇳
Christopher Obekpa🇳🇬
Key Players
Jean Jacques Boissy🇸🇳 — 6’0” G, 24 years old
16.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.4 SPG in 2023 BAL
A.S. Douane’s engine, Boissy is an electric combo guard who is as fast as they come. Though he didn’t have good shooting splits in 2023, he put a ton of pressure on the rim and was excellent at drawing fouls. Made last season’s BAL First Team and Defensive Team.
Abdoulaye Harouna🇳🇪 — 6’5” SG, 31 years old
17.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, 2.2 SPG
If there’s one thing Harouna knows how to do, it’s score the ball. He has played with a different team every season of the BAL and never averaged fewer than 15 points per game. There’s no reason to think he will this season.
Chris Obekpa🇳🇬 — 6’9” C, 30 years old
6.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.6 BPG in Road to BAL
A gigantic defensive presence, Obekpa does the dirty work and cleans up the back line consistently. In 2022, he also was able to average double figure points in the BAL and he could have a similar role this year.
Head Coach
Mamadou Gueye🇸🇳
2023 BAL Head Coach of the Year who has also frequently coached Senegal’s national team.
BAL Elevate Player
Khadim Rassoul Mboup — 6’9” WF, 17 years old
A high-motor wing with athleticism and a good feel for the game.
Projection: 1-5, not qualified for playoffs
The loss of Chris Crawford (and the fact they’ll face him in conference play) may cost AS Douanes more than they think. In a hyper-competitive conference, we may see more close games than in past conferences. Just like last season, this club could very well barely make the cut for the playoffs, but we project them not to qualify for the next round. With two high-usage guards at the helm, that could end up being something opposing teams scheme against relatively easily.
Union Sportive Monastirienne (U.S. Monastir)
Overview
After winning the BAL in 2022, this club wasn’t able to make it back to the championship a year ago. Nonetheless, the Tunisian champions enter the competition as one of the favorites for the entire league. A well-established club with a relatively big budget, US Monastir was able to secure multiple high-level recruits.
Style of Play
The Monastirienne offense is well-organized and mostly features a 4-out 1-in alignment. They are a well-oiled machine with offense that flows, taking advantage of ball and player movement. They can also keep it simple with high and side ball screens to allow their big man to have space and some of their guards to create for him and themselves.
Departures
Churchill Abass🇳🇬
Mohamed Abbassi🇹🇳
Deng Acuoth🇸🇸
Omar Beriek🇹🇳
Ziyed Chennoufi🇹🇳
Naji Jaziri🇹🇳
Houssem Mahemli🇹🇳
Wassef Methnani🇹🇳
Jerome Randle🇺🇸
Michael Roll🇹🇳🇺🇸
Radhouane Slimane🇹🇳
Ibrahima Thomas🇸🇳
Arrivals
Achref Gannouni🇹🇳
Chris Crawford🇺🇸
Ater Majok🇸🇸🇱🇧
Yassine Marmouch🇹🇳
George Williams🇺🇸
Sadie Doucoure🇺🇸
Key Players
Chris Crawford🇺🇸 — 6’4” CG, 31 years old
18.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.5 SPG in 2023 BAL with AS Douanes
Scoring guard with incredible touch who can easily flip the switch to become a distributor depending on personnel
Ater Majok🇸🇸🇱🇧 — 6’11” C, 36 years old
9.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.5 BPG in Road to BAL for Al Ahly Ly
The gigantic paint presence does so much for teams he represents on offense, defense and on the boards. Last season’s all-defensive team member and the former defensive player of the year will be a force down low once again this season.
Firas Lahyani🇹🇳 — 6’7” PF, 32 years old
9.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 54.8% FG in 2023 BAL
The accomplished international forward will look to assume a bigger role this season and contribute to winning all over the floor using his long and athletic archetype.
Head Coach
Mohamed El-Kerdandi🇪🇬
A former Egyptian national team captain, he is the first Egyptian head coach in the history of the BAL.
BAL Elevate Player
Ahmed Bedoui — 6’6” G, 16 years old
Projection: 4-2, qualified for playoffs
Monastir will right the ship due to the level of talent and experience on their roster. In a tight conference, we project them just barely squeaking by after their disastrous first two games.
Armée Patriotique Rwandais (APR)
Overview
APR historically has a track record of championship-winning basketball in Rwanda, but had gone through a 14-year drought until 2023. Set to make a big splash, this team was originally set to showcase the talent of BAL Elevate player Ulrich Chomche before he declared for the NBA draft and was no longer on APR’s final roster. They boast a staff and many players with NBA and G League experience and will look to take a few teams by surprise.
Style of Play
APR plays hungry and is a team with a lot to prove. Though their team is relatively unknown to the BAL audience, many of their players have high-level experience playing in some of America’s top leagues, and it shows in their play that features heavy doses of Iverson cuts and ball screens. Many of their actions mirror popular concepts that have been used in the NBA.
Departures
Ulrich Chomche🇨🇲
Michael Dixon Jr.🇺🇸
Arrivals
Adonis Filer🇺🇸
Dario Hunt🇺🇸
Ntore Habimana🇷🇼
William Robeyns🇷🇼🇧🇪
Wilson Nshobozwa🇷🇼
Axel Mpoyo🇷🇼
Obadiah Noel🇺🇸
Abdullah Ahmed🇪🇬
Dan Kimasa🇷🇼
Christophe Ruta🇷🇼🇨🇦
Bush Wamukota🇰🇪
Key Players
Obadiah Noel🇺🇸 — 6’4” G, 24 years old
12.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG in NBA G League
The young gunner is fresh off an encouraging G League season where he averaged double figures as one of the main scoring threats for the Westchester Knicks.
Adonis Filer🇺🇸 — 6’4” G, 30 years old
17.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 4.3 APG, 1.2 SPG in 2023 BAL.
Capable of putting up big time numbers, Filer forms a deadly backcourt duo that can score with the best of them.
Dario Hunt🇺🇸 — 6’8” C, 35 years old
10.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG on 54% FG, in 2023 Italian Serie A2
A patient and athletic big man who makes the right play at any given moment. Not afraid to make the extra pass or shoot a midrange when necessary.
Head Coach
Mazen Trakh🇯🇴
A seasoned coach with significant global basketball experience including assistant coaching the OKC Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards. Has filled out his staff with assistants who have NBA experience also.
BAL Elevate Player
N/A
Projection: 4-2, qualified for playoffs
APR was able to pull off an enormous upset in a thrilling first game. They’ve put their conference on notice, but the way they played does seem sustainable. They have the will along with a few special individual players to make it to the next round.
Rivers Hoopers
Overview
This season will be the Rivers Hoopers’ second season in the BAL, after first playing part in it in 2021. The Nigerian champions seek to make noise this season, having recruited local and global talent that fits well with one another.
Style of Play
Rivers Hoopers boast an equal opportunity offense where the ball is shared with everyone instead of leaning on one or two players too heavily. They swing the ball from side to side and drive when necessary, letting Will Perry take the reigns if the team is ever in a tough position.
Arrivals
Abel Offia🇳🇬
Michael Daramola🇳🇬
Johnson Anaiye🇳🇬
David Ike🇳🇬
Mustapha Oyebanji🇳🇬
Will Pery🇺🇸
Kelvin Amayo🇺🇸
Peter Olisemeka🇳🇬
Devine Eke🇳🇬
John Wilkins🇳🇬
Key Players
Devine Eke🇳🇬 — 6’8” SF, 27 years old
15.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.4 SPG in Bosnian league
Long, athletic and mobile, Eke could be in for a breakout rookie campaign as he takes advantage of positional mismatches. Had a 30-point game for Nigeria during AfroBasket Qualifiers.
Will Perry🇺🇸 — 6’8” SG, 20 years old
17.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.8 APG, 96.7% FT in 2023 BAL
The seasoned import player is capable of having huge games thanks to his shooting ability and mastery over running the point guard position.
Kelvin Amayo🇺🇸 — 6’4” G, 32 years old
7.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.9 APG, 2.3 SPG in 2023 BAL
An excellent secondary distributor, Amayo keeps defenses on their toes regarding his scoring and assist rates.
Head Coach
Ogoh Odaudu🇳🇬
Former Nigerian national team point guard has coached this team since 2021, and has national team coaching experience at all levels.
BAL Elevate Player
David Ugonna Ike🇳🇬 — 6’11” C, 16 years old
A springy big man who gets off the floor quickly. One of the top performers in his age bracket, the lefty consistently finishes above the rim and protects it ferociously on the other end.
Projection: 3-3, qualified for playoffs
After a terrific start full of upsets, River Lions have put themselves in great position to qualify for the playoffs so far. Now they need to worry about maintaining that level of play while staving off strong teams who are now hungry to play better. We project River Lions to keep things close and qualify with a split record as the second third place wild card club.