On Saturday 20th, May, 2023, Stade Malien and Al Ahly Sporting Club from Egypt played their way to BAL(Basketball Africa League) semi finals after defeating their opponents in games played at BK Arena.
Opening the playoffs was; the president of BAL Amadou Gallo Fall, Rwanda’s sports minister Mrs. Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, FIBA president Anibal Manave, RDB chairperson-Claire Akamanzi, among other leaders.
Stade Malien became the first team to reach the semifinals of the BAL 2023 games after scoring 78-69 points quarter finals victory against Cape Town Tigers.
Preceding the semi final victory, Stade Malien was leading in four quaters but lost one half time thanks to; ‘Sahara Conference Champions’ MVP Aliou Diarra together with his team mate John Wilkins who defeated the former 18-16 points.
At 9:30 pm, Rwanda Energy Group basketball club (REG) and Al Ahly Sporting club (ASC) from Egypt hit the court, also fighting for supremacy for the semifinals.
REG had arguably an easy start to the campaign leading the game for few minutes, however, Al Ahly came in and broke the ‘record’ by leading all four quarters, scoring 94-77 points thus becoming the second team to seebits way to the semifinals.
In 2022, REG played in BAL quater finals but just like this year, they didn’t make it to the semi finals as they were evicted in the first game when they lost to Cameroon’s ‘Forces Armees et Police Basketball (FAP).
The president of the Republic of Rwanda H.E Paul Kagame together with the first lady Jeannette Kagame were among the notable leaders who graced the 2023 BAL opening games.
