The BAL Combine ‘25 brought 30 prospective players from around the world to Rabat, Morocco, while Kenya’s women’s national team The Lionesses prepared for their FIBA Afrobasket Qualifiers and APR continued their winning ways with another gold at the inaugural Super Cup.
by Silalei Shani, bird story agency
January began with a bang for continental basketball as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) held its annual Combine bringing 30 players from Africa, Europe, and the U.S. with the aim of feeding the players in to the teams participating in the BAL 2025 season.
Hosted in Rabat, Morocco, the premiere talent-scouting event took place from January 10th-12th at the Ibn Yassine Sports Hall and featured anthropometric and athletic testing, positional skill development, as well as 5-on 5 games in front of team executives, coaches and scouts. This format not only allowed players to highlight their unique strengths but also gave the scouts valuable insights into how these athletes might contribute to a team’s success.
Led by Camp Director Sam Vincent (himself a former NBA champion and experienced coach with well-established legacy in African basketball) the Combine sets itself apart from traditional combines as it bridges diverse basketball timelines across Africa, giving players an exceptional opportunity to shine, while enabling BAL teams to build well- rounded rosters ahead of the season.
Vincent emphasized the depth of talent present.
“There’s a group of guys who have played in various leagues. They understand the international environment. But I also think the guys who are not as experienced, but very talented, come in with a certain level of enthusiasm and interest in proving that they belong,” he explained.
The BAL’s milestone fifth season will tip off on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at the Prince Moulay Abdella Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.
Kenya’s women prepare.
Kenya’s national basketball team – The Lionesses – began preparations for the FIBA Africa Zone Five Women’s Afrobasket Qualifiers scheduled for February 2nd to 8th in Cairo, Egypt. A provisional squad was released by the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) earlier in the month, which included key international players Mercy Wanyama (Lithuania), Victoria Reynolds (REG, Rwanda) and Madina Okot (Mississippi State) but snubbed domestic superstar and reigning 2024 league MVP player, Betty Kananu.
Betty Kananu is part of the defending champions of the 2023-2024 Kenya Basketball league- Equity Hawks with many astonished at the omission of her name in the National team provisional team list.
Receiving her first call-up is Croatia-based 25-year-old Canadian-Kenyan Shirliz Apiyo, a dynamic 5’6 guard with impressive numbers in her 2022-2023 season and with an average of 23. 8 points per game as well as a remarkable 68.4% field goal percentage. She’s an all-round player who also boasts an average of 7.3 rebounds and 7.8 steals per game.
The squad will be led by Coach George Mayienga alongside seasoned female coach and current assistant at the Equity Dumas Men’s team, Sylvia Kamau.
Rwanda’s APR still in great form
Armée Patriotique Rwandaise, better known as APR, continued their winning ways in their home country as they took first place at the inaugural edition of the Super Cup, beating REG 73-53 at Kigali’s BK Arena. Introduced by Ferwaba’s general assembly in 2023, the Super Cup serves as a curtain-raiser for the new season of Rwanda’s Basketball League (RBL).
The Cup is contested by the league champions and the winners of the Rwanda Cup in a one-game battle. During the game played on January 17th, Rwanda Energy Group Basketball Club led at the bottom of the first quarter, 19-18. However, the army side fought back to go into half time with a 3-point lead and it was the momentum they needed to carry the game to victory. APR’s Malian Center, Aliou Diarra, was the game’s top scorer with 19 points supported by teammates Ntore Habimana and Osborn Shema who added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
In the women’s category, REG coasted to a 10-point victory over APR, finishing the game 76-64. Rwanda’s 2025 season is scheduled to begin on January 24, and APR will be using the games to prepare for their upcoming appearance in the BAL 2025 season.
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