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🛒 تسوق الآنAl-Ahli Benghazi Qualifies for BAL 6 Finals in Kigali
Al-Ahli Benghazi Qualifies for BAL 6 Finals in Kigali
Al-Ahli Benghazi has secured their spot in the finals of the sixth edition of the Basketball Africa League, marking a significant achievement for Libyan basketball on the continental stage. The finals are set to tip off in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 22, with the Libyan side aiming to improve on their runners-up finish from the 2024 edition. The qualification caps off a challenging campaign that tested the team's resilience and determination.
Main Facts and Key Details
The Benghazi-based club qualified after finishing third in the Pretoria qualifiers held in South Africa, sealing their place with a commanding 110–72 victory over the host team, South Africa's Giants, leading 56–34 at halftime. South Sudanese forward Jo Lual emerged as the standout performer of the decisive match, recording 21 points, six rebounds, and five assists. The road to qualification was far from straightforward, however. Al-Ahli Benghazi suffered defeats in their opening two games, losing to Rwanda's Tigers 103–95 and Angola's Petro Atlético 104–90. The team responded emphatically with back-to-back victories over Tanzania's Dar City (118–97) and Kenya's Nairobi City Thunder (107–80) to keep their finals hopes alive and ultimately secure their passage to Kigali. The finals tournament will run from May 22 to May 31 in the Rwandan capital.
Reactions and Context
The qualification represents a major milestone for Libyan sports, as Al-Ahli Benghazi continues to establish itself as one of Africa's most competitive basketball clubs. The team's ability to bounce back from two consecutive losses demonstrated remarkable resilience and tactical adaptability under pressure. Head coach Fotis Katsikaris, who previously led the side during the first leg of the Libyan league finals before stepping down temporarily for health reasons, has returned to oversee preparations. The team held an intensive training camp in Athens, Greece, to fine-tune their match fitness and tactical readiness ahead of the continental tournament, with all foreign professionals joining the squad. Assistant coach Dimitros Farfonis, who took charge during Katsikaris's absence, also played a key role in maintaining team cohesion throughout the qualifying campaign.
Challenges and Outlook
The BAL 6 finals will introduce a new format this season, featuring a home-and-away system in the knockout stage for the first time in the competition's history. Teams will be matched based on rankings: first versus eighth, second versus seventh, third versus sixth, and fourth versus fifth, with the semifinals and final decided in single games. Al-Ahli Benghazi will need to navigate this unfamiliar format while facing some of the continent's strongest clubs, including defending champions and perennial contenders from across Africa. The team's experience from the 2024 campaign, where they reached the final, could prove invaluable as they look to go one step further this time around.
As the only Libyan representative in this year's BAL finals, Al-Ahli Benghazi carries the hopes of basketball fans across the nation. Their journey from a difficult start in the Pretoria qualifiers to securing qualification reflects the determination and fighting spirit that has made them one of North Africa's most respected basketball institutions. With the tournament just days away, all eyes will be on the Benghazi club as they prepare to compete for continental glory in Kigali.
