Sports
FIBA Africa Announces 2027 Road to BAL Elite 16 Groupings
By Today News Hours Editorial Desk
The FIBA Regional Office Africa held the 2027 Road to BAL Elite 16 Draw Ceremony on Friday, November 6, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city. Club representatives, FIBA officials, guests and basketball executives attended as the sixteen clubs were divided into four groups of four.
The West Division Elite 16 will be played in Abidjan from 9 to 15 November, while the East Division Elite 16 is scheduled for Nairobi from 23 to 29 November.
Draw results: West Division Group A: JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire)*, Avenir du Rail (Republic of Congo), Spintex Knights (Ghana), Stade Malien (Mali) Group B: Al Ittihad Sporting Club (Libya), Nadi Staoueli (Algeria), Nabaya Sofas (Guinea), Espoir Basket Club (Gabon) East Division Group A: Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya)*, Patriot Basketball Club (South Sudan), Munali Suns (Zambia), Urunani (Burundi) Group B: Dar City (Tanzania)*, Dolphins (Botswana), Namuwongo Blazers (Uganda), Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique)
*Qualified automatically to the Elite 16 Competition System
The top two teams in each division, plus the highest‑ranked third‑placed team from both divisions, will qualify for the 2027 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season, bringing the total number of teams to five. These five teams will join the seven teams that have automatically qualified for the BAL regular season, representing Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal and Tunisia.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the 2027 Road to BAL Elite 16 Draw Ceremony held?
The ceremony was held on Friday, November 6, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Which teams are automatically qualified to the Elite 16 Competition System?
JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), and Dar City (Tanzania) are automatically qualified.
How many teams will qualify for the 2027 BAL season and which teams are automatically qualified?
Five teams from the Elite 16 will qualify, joining seven automatically qualified teams from Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia.