By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
Photo Credit: Armand Lenir
The 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs have barely tipped off in Kigali, yet the message is already unmistakable: reputations mean nothing, and the bracket is wide open.
After the opening round of the innovative two game quarterfinal series at BK Arena, two of the tournament’s most decorated powerhouses — Al Ahly SC and Petro de Luanda — suddenly find themselves on the edge of elimination, stunned by underdogs who arrived with little fear and even less respect for history.
It is exactly the kind of chaos the BAL’s new aggregate format was designed to produce.
Instead of a single knockout game, teams now play home and away style quarterfinal series, with total points deciding who advances. And after the first legs, that fine margin has already flipped the script.
Senegal’s ASC Ville de Dakar delivered the first shock, edging 2023 champions Al Ahly SC 93–90 in a fearless display that completely disrupted expectations. Barely 24 hours later, debutants Dar City doubled down on the theme, beating continental giants Petro de Luanda 88–82 in another statement result that sent ripples through Kigali.
Two first time playoff teams. Two historic upsets. One clear warning to the rest of the field.
Even among the chaos, a couple of favourites held their nerve. Rwanda’s RSSB Tigers produced the most dominant win of the round, dismantling FUS Rabat 95–72 behind another explosive scoring night from Craig Randall, who continues to thrive under the pressure of a home crowd desperate for a first BAL title on Rwandan soil. Meanwhile, Al Ahly Ly escaped with a razor thin 88–87 win over Club Africain in the tightest finish of the opening games.
The structure of the competition now leaves everything on a knife edge heading into the second legs. For Al Ahly SC and Petro de Luanda, the equation is simple but unforgiving: recover quickly or go home early.
Al Ahly SC head coach Linos Gavriel admitted his side fell well short of their defensive standards after the defeat. “We didn’t do a good job in any aspect of defence,” Gavriel said. “Our team is well known in the local league as the best defensive team in the country. We didn’t deserve to win the game. If we want to compete for the title, we need to do things right for 40 minutes.”
Former MVP Nuni Omot was equally blunt after the setback. “We played probably one of the worst games that I have been a part of, but we still lost by three points,” he said. “We have to figure out where we made mistakes. We have to be the aggressors.”
Petro de Luanda captain Gerson Goncalves pointed to intensity and focus as the deciding factor in their loss. “Our defence lacked focus,” he said. “They were clearly hungrier than us. We must be hungrier than Dar City if we are to win this series.”
That hunger is now the defining theme of the playoffs.
The standings may still show favourites, but the scoreboard tells a different story. Across four opening games, the BAL has already delivered two major upsets, one near escape, and a reminder that in this format, every possession carries tournament altering weight.
The second legs now set up high tension scenarios across Kigali:
Al Ahly SC must beat Ville de Dakar by more than three points to survive.
RSSB Tigers can afford to lose by up to 21 points and still progress thanks to their dominant first leg.
Al Ahly Ly only need to avoid a two point swing to advance over Club Africain.
Petro de Luanda face the toughest climb, needing a six point turnaround against Dar City to stay alive.
In the space of a single weekend, the BAL Playoffs have transformed from a showcase of hierarchy into a survival contest. And if the opening round is anything to go by, no lead, and no name, is safe.