The Basketball Africa League (BAL) returns on March 11, with the Sahara Conference tipping the tournament off in Dakar before it moves on to Cairo for the Nile Conference, and later Kigali where the playoffs and finals take place from May 21-27.
As was the case in the previous two editions, the tournament will feature 12 teams - six of whom qualified automatically by virtue of being national champions, and another six who had to make it through the Road to BAL qualifiers.
Notably, Tunisia's US Monastir will be back to defend their title, with Angola's Petro de Luanda hungry to avenge their 2022 final defeat. Additionally, Nigeria has a representative again after having to sit out the previous season due to issues within their federation.
ESPN has the run-down on every team, and what to expect from each at this year's tournament.
Sahara Conference (March 11-21)
ABC Fighters (Ivory Coast)
How did they qualify? As winners of the Road to BAL West Division Elite 16 qualifying tournament.
History: ABC [Abidjan Basketball Club] Fighters were founded 25 years ago and have dominated Ivorian basketball since. Their proudest moment came when they won the FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup in 2005. Since then, they have been unable to repeat their continental triumph, but have seldom been toppled in the national championship, which they have won 20 times.
Star man: Mike Fofana
Reasons for optimism: ABC have one of the most accomplished coaches in Africa in Liz Mills, the Australian coach who has decades of experience with African men's teams - at both club and international level. At BAL 2022 she coached AS Sale, and was the first woman to coach a Moroccan professional sports team.
Ivorian basketball is on a high with the national team having performed superbly in recent years. As the winners of their qualifying tournament, they have wind in their sails already. There is a healthy mix of veterans and young players within the team and on paper, they are one of the best-prepared teams to have come through the Elite 16.
Reasons for concern: ABC's grip over Ivorian basketball has loosened in recent years. They had to win back their title in 2022 after losing it to Société Omnisports de l'Armée the previous year.
While there is no doubting Mills' credentials, she will once again head to the BAL in charge of a team that she did not lead through qualifying. At AS Salé, she found herself in a similar position and club and coach were unable to find enough common ground for the team to perform at their best.
ESPN's prediction: Quarter-finals
AS Douanes (Senegal)
How did they qualify? AS Douanes dethroned DUC Dakar in the Senegalese Nationale 1, beating them 2-0 in the finals.
History: AS Douanes was founded in 1980 as the basketball division of a Senegalese customs organisation. The team only won its first Nationale 1 title in 1998, but became increasingly dominant in Senegalese basketball as the years passed.
The Dakar-based side appeared at the 2004 FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup, finishing seventh with a record of 0-3. They then featured at the 2021 BAL, where they lost 86-62 to current champions US Monastir in the quarter-finals.
Star man: Terrell Stoglin
Reasons for optimism: Having reached the BAL playoffs before, Douanes will be confident that they can repeat the feat. Samba Dali Fall was terrific in the Nationale 1 finals, clinching the MVP award, and the team has since signed all-time BAL top scorer Terrell Stoglin from AS Sale, and fellow experienced head Chris Crawford. They've also added British-Ghanaian Matthew Bryan-Amaning. At the Sahara Conference in Dakar, they will be on home soil.
Reasons for concern: Having been away from the BAL for a year, Douanes will have to be better than they were in 2021 and than DUC Dakar were last year. No Senegalese side has made the semi-finals, despite the national league champions having automatic entry into the tournament.
ESPN's prediction: Quarter-finals
Kwara Falcons (Nigeria)
How did they qualify? Automatically, as winners of the 2022 Nigerian Premier League, where they beat Nigeria Customs in the final.
History: Based in Ilorin, Kwara, the team has emerged as a force in Nigerian basketball over the last four years. They finished second nationally in 2018 and third in 2019 before finally clinching their first Premier League title in 2022.
Star man: Samuel Dada
Reasons for optimism: Nigeria produces arguably the best basketball talent in Africa despite their men's national team struggling in recent years. This fresh-faced team has breathed new life into their local league, winning their first ever title, and they have grown used to playing as underdogs.
Reasons for concern: The chaos that has engulfed the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) in recent years is always one step away from imploding.
They did not have a representative at the 2022 BAL as a result, and even before that in 2021, when Rivers Hoopers went to the BAL with Ben Uzoh as their marquee signing, they were unable to progress beyond the group stage.
Uzoh has said that the team's preparation was inadequate for them to be competitive at the BAL and it remains to be seen if Kwara Falcons have the infrastructure supporting them for them to be able to become the first Nigerian team to make the playoffs at the tournament.
Their star player at the Nigerian Premier League finals, Samuel Dada, was a first-timer in the national tournament, and should he appear at the BAL, the youngster's game-changing ability will be put to the test against tougher opponents.
ESPN's prediction: Group stage
REG (Rwanda)
How did they qualify? REG defended their Rwanda Basketball League (RBL) title by beating fierce rivals Patriots, the team for whom rapper J.Cole played in 2021, 3-2 in the finals.
History: Rwanda Energy Group BBC (REG) is owned by and named after the company of the same name. Established in 2016, they quickly became one of the dominant forces in the country's rapidly developing basketball scene. After winning the NBL in 2017, they played second fiddle to the Patriots for three years, eventually beating them again to clinch a second national title in 2021 and then a third in 2022.
At the 2022 BAL, REG looked set to be one of the main contenders for the title after impressing in the group stage. They were the only team in the tournament to beat eventual champions US Monastir, but they slumped to a shock quarter-final defeat to Cameroon's FAP.
Star man: Pitchou Manga
Reasons for optimism: Rwandan basketball continues to develop at a rapid rate and capital city Kigali will once again play host for the playoffs and finals.
They were one of the best teams at the BAL in 2022 and will surely have learned from their quarter-final upset at the hands of FAP, which was partially a result of star center Pitchou Manga being controversially dropped.
Reasons for concern: The squad is once again in administrative disarray, with previous head coach Henry Mwinuka having resigned. A report in the New Times recently claimed that contractual issues, including over unpaid bonuses, were hampering the morale of the team. With this in mind, it is difficult to precisely predict who will be available for REG's final roster.
ESPN's prediction: Semi-finals
Stade Malien (Mali)
How did they qualify? By edging out Bangui Sporting Club in the third-place playoff in the West Division qualifiers.
History: Stade Malien is a multi-sports club which also plays football and rugby. Formed in 1960, they have a rich basketball history, as the team made the final of the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup in 1972 and 1989, though losing on both occasions. They went eight years without a national championship before beating AS Mandé in the 2022 finals.
Star man: Aliou Fadiala Diarra
Reasons for optimism: Overall, Stade Malien had an impressive qualifying campaign. Their only defeat in the Elite 16 was to ABC Fighters in the semi-finals.
Reasons for concern: The manner in which Stade Malien were overrun by ABC Fighters suggests there is plenty of work to do, particularly in the offensive department. They may have had enough firepower in qualifying, but they do not, as of now, have any notable star players that are likely to help them stand up to the best teams in Africa.
ESPN's prediction: Group stage
US Monastir (Tunisia)
How did they qualify? Monastir beat Ezzahra Sports 3-1 in the finals of the Tunisian Championnat National A to qualify automatically for the BAL.
History: Established in 1959, US Monastir did not rise to the top of Tunisian basketball until 1998, when they beat Ezzahra Sports in the league finals to win their first title. In 1999/2000, Monastir beat Club Africain in the league final and Ezzahra in the cup final to win the double.
After a third title win in 2005 and a maiden appearance at the FIBA Africa Club Championship in 2014, Monastir finished third in the Africa Champions Cup in 2017. They were defeated by ES Radès in the semi-final, but won the bronze playoff against Sport Libolo e Benfica.
If they needed revenge on local rivals ES Radès, Monastir claimed it by beating them to bag the league title in not only 2019, but again in 2020. In 2021 and 2022, Monastir beat Ezzahra in the finals.
They were widely viewed as favourites for the inaugural BAL title, but lost to Zamalek in the final. However, in 2022, they gained revenge on Zamalek in the semi-finals before beating Petro de Luanda in the final.
Star man: Radhouane Slimane
Reasons for optimism: Put simply, Monastir have reason to be optimistic because they are the defending champions and one of the most prestigious basketball clubs in Africa. They are always likely to be there or thereabouts when it comes to determining the kings of the continent. They have made shrewd signings, including Jerome Randle and Deng Acuoth, both of whom have starred in Australia.
Reasons for concern: It will be difficult to recapture the magic of last year with a new-look team, as last year's Monastir side had strong chemistry. Furthermore, Monastir tend to be hampered to some degree by administrative issues, as appeared to be the case last year when Ty Lawson pulled out of the BAL, making allegations on his Instagram stories that he'd left because he had not paid.
ESPN's prediction: Runners-up
Nile Conference (April 26 - May 6)
Petro de Luanda (Angola)
How did they qualify? Petro stormed to victory in the 2021/22 Angolan Basketball League, finishing the regular season with a 26-0 record and winning all of their playoff matches, including a 3-0 win over Interclube in the final. They thus qualified automatically for the BAL.
History: Established in 1976, Petro de Luanda's basketball team is one of many sporting outfits in a diverse institution which includes football and handball teams. They are second only to Primeiro de Agosto in overall Angolan Basketball League title wins.
Petro de Luanda's first national title came in 1989 and they dominated Angolan basketball in the early 1990s, winning the league in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. Further triumphs followed in 1998 and 1999.
After a seven-year drought, Petro de Luanda won the league again in 2006, which was the same year in which they were crowned African champions for the first time. Fittingly, it was a 76-71 win over Primeiro de Agosto which earned Petro de Luanda their first FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup title.
After another league title in 2007, Petro de Luanda's next came in 2011. In 2015, they repeated their 2006 Angolan and African double. Having beaten Primeiro de Agosto in the semi-finals, they saw off fellow local rivals Rec do Libolo 89-75 in the FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup final.
Petro de Luanda's next league title came in 2019 and they have dominated nationally since. They were top of the table in 2020 when the league was called off due to COVID-19 and won the league in 2021 and 2022.
At the 2021 BAL, they finished third, losing to eventual champions Zamalek in the semi-finals before beating Rwandan host side Patriots to clinch bronze. In 2022, they went one step further, appearing in the final, where they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to US Monastir.
Star man: Carlos Morais
Reasons for optimism: In terms of team chemistry, Petro are a cut above everyone else in the BAL, as their strong core of local players has remained virtually unchanged since the first tournament, and many of the players have years of experience playing together.
Petro narrowly came up short in the last two BAL tournaments, but they have signed Solo Diabaté, the veteran guard who was on the winning side on both occasions (Zamalek in 2021 and Monastir in 2022). They have also brought in journeyman small forward Damian Hollis, so they are ahead of most BAL teams in terms of their preparation.
Reasons for concern: Petro's key players are not getting any younger and it is doubtful whether their younger players will ever reach the heights scaled by Carlos Morais' generation. Yanick Moreira, who starred for Petro at the BAL last year, is impressing in Greece for Kolossos Rodou, so it looks likely that Petro will be without him in 2023.
ESPN's prediction: Champions
Al Ahly (Egypt)
How did they qualify? Ahly dethroned Cairo rivals Zamalek as kings of Egypt in the 2021/22 Super League to automatically earn BAL qualification. They beat Al Ittihad 3-2 in the finals after Ittihad's 3-0 clean sweep of Zamalek in the semis.
History: Predominantly known as the most prestigious football club in Africa, Ahly are also up there when it comes to other sports, including basketball, handball and volleyball.
With that said, they have generally taken a backseat role in Egyptian basketball throughout history to Al Ittihad and Zamalek. In the last two decades, that has begun to change. Ahly were national champions in 1988/89, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2011/12 and 2015/16 before their most recent Super League triumph.
In continental competitions, they have punched above their weight, winning the African Basketball Cup Winners' Cup in 1998 and 2000 and the FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup in 2016. This, however, will be their first appearance at the BAL.
Star man: Walter Hodge
Reasons for optimism: Having signed 2021 BAL MVP Walter Hodge, who starred in that tournament for local rivals Zamalek, Ahly are bound to be among the contenders for the prize. The club appears to be in a golden era for basketball, both on the men's and women's sides.
Reasons for concern: This is Ahly's first BAL appearance and African basketball has changed significantly since they were continental champions in 2016. This task will require more of them than they have ever given before.
ESPN's prediction: Semi-finals
SLAC (Guinea)
How did they qualify? As West Division Elite 16 runners-up. A 69-61 win over Central African side Bangui sealed their place, but SLAC lost 81-70 to ABC in the final.
History: Seydou Legacy Athlétique Club (SLAC) have dominated Guinean basketball since winning a first Ligue 1 title in 2015. They have since added further triumphs in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Before the BAL came into existence, they played their first FIBA Africa Basketball League tournament in 2018/19, losing all three matches against AS Salé, JS Kairouan and Rivers Hoopers. At last year's tournament, they made it to the quarter-finals.
Star man: Dane Miller Jr.
Reasons for optimism: SLAC have been to the BAL playoffs before, giving them valuable experience which is lacking among many of their competitors. Rutgers alum Miller Jr. helped them through qualifying after starring for them at last year's tournament, just one example of a key figure in the team that has carried forward his experience.
Reasons for concern: There is good reason to believe that all was not well behind the scenes even in SLAC's run in last year's BAL. After their quarter-final defeat to Zamalek, coach Željko Zečević accused club administrators of making "crazy decisions" that he claimed had prevented him from taking players he wanted to the tournament. There is always a possibility that tensions will emerge again and last-minute roster changes could be on the cards.
ESPN's prediction: Quarter-finals
Ferroviário da Beira (Mozambique)
How did they qualify? As Elite 16 East Division runners-up. They missed out on the chance to defend their title, losing to hosts Cape Town Tigers in the final.
History: Ferroviário da Beira's history dates back to 1924, but the basketball section of the club has enjoyed its golden years over the last decade. They won the Mozambique Division 1 in 2012, 2013 and 2014 before finally adding another title in 2021, earning their right to play in the BAL qualifiers, which they did with much success.
At the tournament itself, they were eliminated at the first hurdle, but they retained their national title in 2022 and subsequently managed to qualify for the BAL again.
Star man: Will Perry
Reasons for optimism: This is a team with plenty of potential game changers, chief among them being Will Perry, who comes in from starring for Cantabria in Spain. They will be eager to prove a point after their disappointment at the 2022 BAL, not to mention the relinquishing of their East Division qualifying title to the Tigers.
Reasons for concern: When Beira came up against the Tigers in qualifying, the South African side was in control of the game from the get-go. Despite their best efforts, Beira are playing catch-up at this point as they look to find a way to match Africa's biggest sides in terms of firepower. Their team was always going to be too strong for most opponents in qualifying, but it is not yet strong enough to rule Africa barring a major upset.
ESPN's prediction: Group stage
Cape Town Tigers (South Africa)
How did they qualify? As East Division winners of the Elite 16 qualifying tournament.
History: Founded in 2019 by an American ownership group, the Cape Town Tigers saw their plans halted by COVID-19. However, they rebuilt and won the 2021 national championship. The Tigers subsequently used home advantage to become the first South African team ever to secure qualification for the BAL and surprised many by reaching the quarter-finals.
In 2022, they steamrolled to another national title in more convincing fashion and won the East Division Elite 16 qualification tournament by beating Ferroviário da Beira - a club fast turning into one of their biggest rivals - in the final.
Star man: Evans Ganapamo
Reasons for optimism: Last year's turbulent team environment appears to have been rectified to a large degree, with new signings Dhieu Deing and Michael Gbinije impressing in qualifying. Their core of local players remains largely unchanged and the Central African Republic's Evans Ganapamo is playing better than ever after returning from his stint in the NBA Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Tigers' improvement over the last year has been remarkable and they even managed to beat Petro de Luanda in a friendly, then taking them to the wire in a narrow defeat in another game.
Reasons for concern: Last year, the Tigers went to the BAL with Relton Booysen as the official head coach and part-owner Raphael Edwards his assistant. At times, they were able to make it work. In other moments, by Booysen's own admission, it was difficult.
Florsheim Ngwenya is the current coach, so if he leads them into the BAL, it remains to be seen if he and Edwards can complement each other in a high-stakes environment. They got off to a good start in qualifying with both on the bench.
Another question that needs to be answered is whether the Tigers can compete with Africa's best teams outside of South Africa, having been resoundingly beaten by Petro de Luanda, Zamalek and US Monastir at last year's BAL.
Raphiael Putney has left the team in order to accommodate Zaire Wade, a signing that could prove to be a masterstroke for them, but could also backfire if handled incorrectly.
ESPN's prediction: Quarter-finals
City Oilers (Uganda)
How did they qualify? City Oilers beat Burundi's Urunani in the decisive playoff match to clinch third place in the Elite 16 East Division.
History: The team from Kampala grew from a group of friends who played pick-up games in the city around 2008 and were later joined by national league hoopers. According to Kawowo Sports, Mohamed Santur, one of the friends, pitched the idea of forming a club to City Oil management and thus began City Oilers, now the dominant force in Ugandan basketball with eight successive national titles.
Star man: Falando Jones
Reasons for optimism: This is a team that is used to playing with confidence as a result of their dynastic run on home soil. With the Ugandan National Basketball League getting back underway for the 2022 season and reaching completion for the first time since 2019, it was business as usual for City Oilers as they clinched the title.
American Falando Jones was one of the star players in Elite 16 qualifying and every team is likely to struggle to defend against the 6ft5in power forward.
Reasons for concern: After the Elite 16 round, Jones went to play in Saudi Arabia for Al Fateh SC. As for his BAL plans, he told ESPN: "As of now, I will continue with City Oilers. Our season here (in Saudi Arabia) will be done at the end of March."
However, being without him in the meantime may impact City Oilers' preparations. Furthermore, having only scraped through qualifying, the team will have to improve when they face Africa's most prestigious clubs.
ESPN's prediction: Group stage