Photo Essay: The Basketball Africa League Kicks Off With First Games in South Africa

Scores of people gathered at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa last weekend to watch the first set of games in the Basketball Africa League’s new season, the fourth since its 2021 debut. Twelve teams from twelve African countries are competing this time around, and each one carries the hopes of lifting the trophy won by Egypt’s Al Ally in 2023.

OkayAfrica was on the ground to witness all of the first day, an action-packed, set of matches where Angola’s Petro de Luanda faced Morocco’s Fus Rabat, and South Africa’s Cape Town Tigers went neck-to-neck with Dynamo BBC from Burundi. Entertainment for the day was provided by South Africa’s amapiano hitmaker, Daliwonga, who brought the heat that had the whole arena singing along to chart-smashers like “About Mvelo.”

Music kept attendees thrilled throughout, and the announcer made sure to keep the energy levels high at all times. It was an afternoon and evening where the competing teams’ endurance and sportsmanship were put to the ultimate test. There could only be one winner per game, however. Dynamo BBC emerged triumphant, scoring 86 points to Cape Town Tigers’ 73, while 2022 runners-up Petro de Luanda lost with 73 points to Fus Rabat’s 82 points.

More of the sights from the day below:

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.

Photo by Tšeliso Monaheng.