The final day of the Sahara Basketball conference Africa League (BAL) ended this Sunday at Dakar Arena, marking the end of a trying phase for the sports association of the city of Dakar (ASCVD). The Senegalese representative, in search of a burst of pride in front of his audience, conceded a fourth defeat (68-77) against the Monastirian sports union, champion of the 2022 edition.
This new disappointment ends a series of semi -inted performances for the Champions of Senegal, who nevertheless hoped to offer a symbolic victory to their supporters. From the start, the ASCVD struggled to print its brand, losing the first two quarters (15-16, 32-38). Upon returning from the locker room, the Tunisians intensified their game without however significantly distance their opponents. It was at the last quarter that the gap has widened, allowing US Monastir to consolidate its domination and impose itself with confidence.
In the other striking poster of the day, the surprise came from Cape Verde: Kriol Star, for his first participation in the ball, created the feat by winning (71-69) against Petro de Luanda, reigning champion. This victory, torn in the last seconds of a breathtaking extension, allows the Cap-Verdien club to finish in third place in the ranking, with three victories and three defeats.
However, Kriol Star will have to wait until the end of the Nile Conference, scheduled for May 17 to 25 at the Kigali BK Arena (Rwanda), to hope to be among the two best thirds and thus access the final phase.
At the end of this Sahara conference, the US Monastir finished in the lead with four victories and two defeats, followed by Petro Luanda, which recorded three successes for as much reverse. These two teams thus join Al Ittihad of Alexandria and Rivers Hoopers, already qualified via the Kalahari Conference disputed in April in Rabat.
Basketball Africa League will know its epilogue in June, with the finals 8 scheduled from 6 to 14 in Pretoria, South Africa. The Sunbet Arena will then welcome the eight best teams of the three conferences, for a decisive final phase combining classification meetings and direct elimination confrontations.
