Rwanda’s vibrant capital is once again ready to take center stage in African basketball as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2025 Nile Conference Playoffs tip off on Saturday, May 17, at the iconic BK Arena.
After successfully hosting the BAL Finals in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Kigali has earned a strong reputation as a reliable and exciting basketball destination. The BK Arena, one of Africa’s most modern indoor venues, is now set to host some of the continent’s top basketball talent as teams compete for a spot in the 2025 BAL Finals, scheduled to take place in Pretoria, South Africa from June 6 to 14.
This year’s Nile Conference will feature four strong teams, including Rwanda’s own APR BBC, the 2024 national champions. They will go head-to-head with MBB(Made By Ball) from South Africa, Al Ahli tripoli (Libya), and Nairobi City Thunder (NCT) from Kenya, all fighting for a place in the BAL Playoffs.
The BAL, which launched in 2020 with its first edition hosted in Kigali, has continued to grow each year. In its fifth season, the 2025 tournament includes a record 12 teams—six of which are participating for the first time. The league has three regular-season conferences:
Kalahari Conference (held in Rabat, Morocco)
Sahara Conference (held in Dakar, Senegal)
Nile Conference (now happening in Kigali, Rwanda)
Each team plays in a round-robin format within their conference. The top two teams from each conference, plus the two best third-placed teams, move on to the playoffs, which are played in a knockout format to decide the BAL champion. The winner automatically qualifies for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, giving them a chance to compete on a global stage.
But BAL in Rwanda is about more than just basketball. The event brings huge benefits to local people and businesses in Kigali. From taxi drivers, motorcyclists, and local traders to bars, hotels, and workers at BK Arena, many Rwandans earn income and opportunities during the tournament.
“It’s not just a game, it’s a boost to our economy,” says a local vendor near BK Arena. “During BAL, our sales go up because so many people come here.”
The presence of Rwandan teams in BAL, like Patriots BBC in 2020 and now APR BBC, also plays an important role in developing the sport locally. Competing at this high level gives Rwandan players valuable experience and inspires more youth to join the sport.
With the Nile Conference starting tomorrow, all eyes are on APR BBC as they represent Rwanda in front of their home fans. The hope is not only to qualify for the playoffs but also to chase the BAL title and make the country proud.
Stay tuned as we bring you full coverage of the BAL 2025 Nile Conference right here from Kigali!
