Luanda - Petro de Luanda is a candidate to win the fourth edition of the African Basketball League (BAL), the final phase of which begins on Friday, in the city of Kigali, Rwanda.
The Angolan representative, totalists in the final stages, will face Monastir from Tunisia on Saturday, in the repeat of the 2022 final, won by the Tunisians, 83-72.
In the duel, Petro will meet South Sudanese center Ater Majok, his former player and now playing for Monastir.
In this biggest club competition on the continent, the Angolan champion has been chasing the title since 2021, in which it occupied 3rd place, subsequently 2nd place, in 2022, and 4th place, in 2023.
Of the eight participating teams, only Petro was in the four final stages, while Al Ahly from Benghazi (Libya), Fus Rabat (Morocco) and Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) make their debut in the competition.
Al Ahly from Egypt, As Douanes from Senegal, Cape Town Tigers from South Africa and Monastir from Tunisia, participated alternately in the event, under the aegis of FIBA-Africa and the North American Basketball League (NBA).
In the opening, on Friday, Al Alhy from Benghazi and CapeTown Tigers will face each other, and on the same day, Al Alhy from Egypt, holder of the title, will face Fus Rabat from Morocco.
Also, on Saturday, Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) plays against As Douanes (Senegal), current runner-up.
To date, teams from North Africa have been the winners of the competition in the League version, such as Zamalek (2021), Monastir (2022) and Al Alhy (2023).
WR/VAB/CF/jmc
