With the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) fast approaching, Rwanda’s representative, RSSB Tigers, has unveiled a competitive squad bolstered by experienced players from APR BBC ahead of the Kalahari Conference.
The tournament will take place in Pretoria, South Africa, from March 27 to April 4, 2026, marking RSSB Tigers’ debut appearance in the BAL after replacing APR BBC, which withdrew from the competition.
Among the 12-man squad, six players come from APR BBC: Axel Mpoyo, Ntore Habimana, Ndizeye Dieudonne, Mangok Mathiang, Teafale Leonard Jr, and Craig Leonard Randle. Their inclusion adds valuable experience and depth to a team aiming to make an immediate impact.
The roster is further strengthened by key contributors already within the Tigers setup, including Antino Jackson, Hagumintwari Steven, Bizimana Paul, Viny Okouo, Cyiza Chandelier (Kepler BBC), and Furaha Cadeaux de Dieu (REG BBC).
On the technical bench, head coach Henry Mwinuka will lead the team, assisted by James Maye Jr who also joins from APR BBC, and Kenneth Gasana.
RSSB Tigers are scheduled to depart for South Africa on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, as they prepare to compete against top African clubs in the Kalahari Conference. Their group features strong opponents such as Johannesburg Giants (South Africa), Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya), Dar City (Tanzania), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), and Petro de Luanda (Angola).
Meanwhile, the Sahara Conference will be held in Morocco, featuring teams like FUS Rabat, Al Ahly (Egypt), ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal), Club Africain (Tunisia), JCA Kings (Côte d’Ivoire), and Maktown Flyers (Nigeria).
The top four teams from each conference will advance to the playoffs and finals, set to be hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 22 to May 31, 2026.
The BAL continues to grow as one of the most followed basketball competitions globally. In 2025, when Al Ahli Tripoli lifted the title, the tournament attracted over 140,000 in-person fans from 214 countries, while more than 1.2 billion viewers engaged with the competition across various digital platforms.
RSSB Tigers will be aiming not only to represent Rwanda with pride but also to announce themselves on the continental stage in their first-ever BAL campaign.
