Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) and Hennessy, the world-renowned cognac brand and Official Spirit of the BAL, are set to host the second “BAL IN” event in Accra, Ghana, at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Friday, December 27.
Presented by Hennessy, “BAL IN” Accra will showcase African culture and creativity, bringing together basketball, fashion, music, art, design, and entertainment. The event’s highlight will be a celebrity basketball game curated by AfroFuture, an African media management company that promotes creative talent and curates lifestyle and entertainment events across the continent. The game will feature players with BAL experience, as well as local artists and entertainers. Fans can register to attend at https://apo-opa.co/3DhcXSB.
“We’re thrilled to return to Accra for our second ‘BAL IN’ experience as we build momentum for our milestone fifth season,” said Amadou Gallo Fall, BAL President. “This year’s ‘BAL IN’ will celebrate African sports, business, and creative industries on the global stage, in line with the BAL’s mission to shine a spotlight on Africa and drive economic growth across the continent.”
David White, Regional Managing Director for Moët Hennessy in Africa and the Middle East, added, “As the Official Spirit of the NBA and the BAL, Hennessy is excited to kick off another thrilling season, particularly with Ghana joining the ‘BAL IN’ cities this year. We invite fans to enjoy the games hosted across the continent and the vibrant cultural experiences celebrated beyond the court.”
“We’re excited to partner with the BAL and Hennessy to bring the second ‘BAL IN’ event to Accra this December, blending basketball, fashion, music, and art into one unforgettable experience,” said Abdul Karim Abdullah, CEO and Co-Founder of AfroFuture. “Events like these elevate the global spotlight on Africa, positioning our continent as a leader in talent and live entertainment. This is just the beginning of what’s possible when sports and culture unite to inspire the next generation.”
“BAL IN” is part of the league’s ongoing strategy to connect with fans across Africa and the African Diaspora. Previous events have been held in cities such as Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Berlin (Germany), Lagos (Nigeria), Paris (France), and Salt Lake City (USA).
The BAL’s fifth season will tip off on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco, and will conclude with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa. This will mark the first BAL games in Morocco and the first BAL Finals in South Africa. The season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries, playing 48 games in Rabat, Dakar (Senegal), Kigali (Rwanda), and Pretoria.
The 12 teams will be divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game group phase, where teams will face each other twice. The Kalahari Conference group phase will be held in Rabat from April 5–13, the Sahara Conference will play in Dakar from April 26–May 4, and the Nile Conference will take place in Kigali from May 17–25. The top eight teams from the three conferences will advance to the Playoffs in Pretoria, beginning on Friday, June 6, and concluding with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14. Fans can register for tickets to games in all four cities at BAL.NBA.com.
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