BASKETBALL - The African Mirror

Jun

02

2026

RSSB Tigers roar to historic BAL title

BASKETBALL

THE RSSB Tigers have done it, and they did it with just enough drama to keep the BK Arena roof from floating away. Rwanda’s pride outlasted Petro de Luanda 90-88 in a final that felt less like a basketball game and more like a tightrope act performed in sneakers, making the Tigers the first team from Rwanda to lift the Basketball Africa League crown. Craig Randall II was the man with the hot hand and the cold stare, dropping 36.1 points per game on the season and earning the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy as BAL MVP. On a night when every…

Apr

23

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Africa’s giant enters basketball immortality

BASKETBALL

SHE carried the weight of a continent on her shoulders and made it look effortless. On Tuesday night in Berlin, the basketball world finally gave Clarisse Machanguana the honour her extraordinary career has always deserved - a place in the FIBA Hall of Fame. The Mozambican centre, one of the most commanding and influential figures to emerge from African basketball, was formally inducted at a ceremony on 22 April in the German capital, joining a distinguished Class of 2026 that includes United States legend Sue Bird, France's Céline Dumerc, German icon Dirk Nowitzki, Chile's Ismenia Pauchard, Turkey's Hedo Türkoğlu, China's…

Apr

16

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

History in the paint: Madina Okot becomes first Kenyan drafted into the WNBA

BASKETBALL

ON the night of the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Atlanta Dream called a name that had never been called before in the history of that league. With the 13th overall pick, they selected Madina Okot - 21 years old, six feet six inches tall, born in Mumias, raised on the basketball courts of Kenya, and now, officially, a member of the best women's basketball league on earth. Kenya did not wake up to a statistic on Wednesday morning. It woke up to a new frontier. "Your journey is proof that even the boldest ambitions are within reach." President William Ruto…

Apr

11

2026

By NAHIS REGIS, BIRD STORY AGENCY

It’s more than basketball

BASKETBALL

ON the basketball court of the Cité des Arts in Cocody, Abidjan, the rhythm is relentless. Balls bounce in quick succession, instructions echo across the court, and young women repeat drills with intensity. Some work on their footwork, others string together passes or reposition themselves on defence under the attentive eye of their coach. At the centre of it all, one woman leads the session with precision: Patricia Lorougnon. A former Ivorian international player, Lorougnon is one of the leading figures in basketball in Côte d’Ivoire. A former player for Africa Sports, Abidjan Basketball Club and ASEC Mimosas, her career…

Feb

28

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Basketball Africa League expands to 12 nations for landmark 2026 season

BASKETBALL

THE Basketball Africa League is heading into its sixth season with its biggest and most geographically diverse field yet, announcing Thursday a 12-team lineup that includes first-ever representation from Tanzania and fresh entries from Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia. The 2026 season tips off March 27 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria — marking the first time South Africa has hosted BAL opening play — with tickets already on sale at Ticketmaster.co.za. The 42-game schedule will then move to Rabat, Morocco, before culminating with the Playoffs and Finals from May 22-31 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. "Welcoming…

Jan

31

2026

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

African basketball royalty returns to the court

BASKETBALL

THE stage is set. The lights will blaze. And come March 27, the hardwood will shake once again as Africa's basketball elite descend upon Pretoria's SunBet Arena for the tip-off of the Basketball Africa League's sixth season - a 66-day odyssey of sweat, skill, and spectacle that will crown a new champion on May 31 in Kigali, Rwanda. Last June, history erupted at this very venue. Alahli Tripoli - Libya's pride, their warriors in sneakers - hoisted the BAL championship trophy high above their heads, the first Libyan side ever to claim continental supremacy. They dethroned giants from Angola, Egypt,…

Dec

20

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Africa takes centre stage as World Basketball Day celebrates global game

BASKETBALL

AFRICAN basketball is set for a major boost this World Basketball Day as 19 coaches from the prestigious Africa Coaches Program prepare to conduct coaching clinics across 13 countries, reaching over 600 coaches throughout the continent. The initiative, part of NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League's commitment to developing coaching talent, will see clinics held in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Eritrea, Gabon, Libya, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tunisia and Senegal on December 21.World Basketball Day, established by the United Nations in 2023, commemorates the day Dr James Naismith introduced basketball at a YMCA in Massachusetts in 1891. The…

Oct

24

2025

By SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The NBA’s perfect storm: When hoops met heists

BASKETBALL

IN what FBI Director Kash Patel dubbed "the insider trading saga for the NBA," Thursday's bombshell indictments read less like a federal complaint and more like a fever dream screenplay rejected by Martin Scorsese for being too far-fetched. Portland Trail Blazers head coach and Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups? Charged. Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier? In handcuffs. The Mafia? Oh, they're here too, naturally. Welcome to the biggest scandal to rock professional basketball since, well, ever—a sprawling saga involving rigged poker games with X-ray tables (yes, really), fake injuries designed to tank prop bets, and organised crime families who apparently…

Oct

23

2025

By SPORTS REPORTER

African stars shine as NBA opens historic season with record international presence

BASKETBALL

AFRICA'S imprint on the NBA has never been stronger. As the league tips off its 2025-26 season tonight, a record-breaking wave of international talent includes more than 55 players with African roots – either born on the continent or with at least one parent from Africa – cementing the continent's status as a basketball powerhouse. The staggering numbers tell a story of African excellence: among the 135 international players from 43 countries on opening-night rosters, African-connected athletes are leading the charge in what has become the most globally diverse season in NBA history. Continental Giants Leading the League At the…

Aug

25

2025

By The African Mirror

Dreams take flight in Kigali: Basketball Without Borders Africa makes historic East African debut

BASKETBALL

IN the heart of Rwanda's capital, where the echoes of a nation's remarkable recovery still resonate, 60 young dreamers from across Africa are about to embark on a journey that could change their lives forever. This weekend marks a historic moment as Basketball Without Borders Africa touches down in East Africa for the first time, bringing hope, opportunity, and the promise of greatness to Kigali's Petit Stade and BK Arena. Where Champions Are Born From August 23-26, the most talented high-school-age basketball players from 21 African nations will converge under the guidance of legends who have walked the path they…