Which teams will qualify for the 2025 BAL? - Semi-Final PREVIEW

    Preview

    The most import games of the season for the West Division Elite 16 semifinalists are here.

    ABIDJAN (Cote d'Ivoire) - Whoever commits the fewer errors in Saturday's Semi-Finals of the 2025 Road to BAL West Division Elite 16 qualifier will draw a new chapter in their clubs history.

    These are the most important games of the season for Al Ahli Tripoli Sport (Libya), Kadji Sport Academy KSA (Cameroon), Stade Malien (Mali) and ABC Fighters (Cote d'Ivoire).

    But which of the four teams will qualify for the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season? The winning teams will do it, while the losing teams will compete in Sunday's third-place game.

    Here's a breakdown of things to know about the West Division Elite 16 Semi-Finals.

    STADE MALIEN v KADJI SPORT ACADEMY (16:30 GMT)

    This is the first-ever encounter between the current champions of Mali and Cameroon, and it's one that could go either way.

    Unlike Stade Malien, who finished third in the 2023 BAL season, KSA - a recently founded Cameroonian club by former Miami University standout player and current member of the team Kenneth Kadji - are chasing their maiden BAL qualification.

    Two teams that share a few statistical similarities, Stade Malien and KSA faced different experiences in the run-up to Saturday's semis.

    While Stade Malien are currently on a four-game winning streak dating back to their 81-76 win over Kriol Star in October in Tripoli, KSA faced ups and downs since hosting Group C of the preliminary round in Douala. They lost two of their seven games to date.

    Mali international Ibrahim Djambo, who has enjoyed a successful career in Europe, has been a significant addition for Stade Malien in the Elite 16, averaging 18 points per game

    A team comprising of some current and former Cameroon national players - Jeremy Nzeulie, Kenneth Kadji, Cedric Kenfack and Gedeon Pitard - KSA counts on Senegalese Makhtar Gueye - a BAL-tested player with Ferroviario da Beira - as one of their go-to guys.

    One characteristic of KSA's game that can't be overlooked is its bench's production, which has been paramount throughout the qualifiers.

    Averaging a team-high 18 points in the last three games, Mahamane Coulibaly has been Stade Malien's primary scoring option.

    TEAM

    GAMES PLAYED

    WIN-LOSS

    FIELD-GOAL%

    3PT%

    FT%

    RBDS PG*

    PPG**

    STADE MALIEN

    5

    4-1

    39

    26

    58

    55

    78

    KSA

    7

    5-2

    39

    30

    53

    48

    79

    *Rebounds per game in the Elite 16 round ** Points per game

    AL AHLI TRIPOLI v ABC FIGHTERS (19:30 GMT)

    Libyan champions Al Ahli Tripoli Sport Club have had no major troubles in the run-up to the semis. Their toughest test came in a 96-91 overtime win over Kadji Sport Academy.

    Tripoli currently stand alone as the only team without a defeat. Can they shrug off local fans' potential involvement in a must-win for either side?

    The two teams will face each other for the first time in their history. It is a clash where Al Ahli Tripoli chase their first BAL qualification while ABC Fighters are looking to return to Africa's premier clubs' competition for the second time since 2023.

    Angok Yak Deng is one of the four import players who joined Al Ahli Tripoli for the Elite 16. He averaged 16 points and 9 rebounds in three games.

    Unlike Al Ahli Tripoli, the Fighters lost two of their three games in the Elite 16 round against battle-tested Stade Malien and DR Congo's Chaux Sport.

    ABC's two losses raise a question whether or not the Ivorian representatives can come up on top against a high-flying Al Ahli Tripoli.

    Here's what the numbers of both teams show:

    TEAM

    GAMES PLAYED

    WIN-LOSS

    FIELD-GOAL%

    3PT%

    FT%

    RBDS PG*

    PPG**

    ABC FIGHTER

    6

    4-2

    43

    32

    56

    50

    89

    AL AHLI TRIPOLI

    5

    5-0

    49

    31

    64

    56

    96

    *Rebounds per game in the Elite 16 round ** Points per game

    FIBA

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