TRIPOLI (Libya) – Al Ahli Tripoli Sports Club will be going all out in the 2025 Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL) West Division Elite 16 with only one thing in their mind: to be heard.
There is little doubt that eight-time Libyan champions have bigger shoes to fill considering the exploits of their compatriots Al Ahli Benghazi who shook off seasoned teams all the way to the finals of the BAL season Four festival in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Benghazi-based Club bowed out from the competition with their heads held high. Their giant killing act only came to an end in the finals where they were halted 109-94 by Angolan giants Petro de Luanda in a high-scoring confrontation.
With this performance in mind, Al Ahli Tripoli can have high hopes that they too can have a strong case when the dust finally settles in the West Division Elite 16 they will be one of the teams left standing.
HOW AL AHLI TRIPOLI QUALIFIED FOR THE ELITE 16
Playing their West Division Group A matches at the Grand Hall of Sports in Tripoli, the Libyan champions, urged on by the delirious fans, did not disappoint.
They stopped their two opponents finishing with a 2-0 record.
The group also consisted of Stade Malien of Mali and Kriol Star of Cape Verde. Burkina Faso champions Union Sportive Des Forces Armee, expected to join the three, withdrew from the event.
Al Ahli Tripoli got their campaign off in style, ripping Stade Malien of Mali 85-66. In that game, Ivan Almeida had a stand out performance scoring 14 points and pulling down 13 rebounds that went with 7 assists.
In their second encounter, the Libyan champions then had it all too easy against Kriol Star whipping the hapless Cape Verde side, 100-77 to finish the three-team outing without losing a game to the delight of the home fans.
KEY PLAYERS IN THE GROUP PHASE
Local hero Mohamed Sadi, led the Al Ahli Tripoli onslaught in that fixture (against Kriol Star) going off for 21 points, grabbed 4 boards and picked up 3 steals. Not to be left behind was Tevin Mack who contributed 20 points while Ivan Almeida tallied 15.
In the mix was another home boy Nasein Badrush who also turns out for the national side. Knowing how tough BAL competition can be, the Tripoli club also recruited well by signing Micheal Eric and Tevin Mack.
They also had in their stable, players who have navigated the BAL terrain so well. There was Walter Hodge, who inspired Zamalek to the 2021 BAL title and also claimed the tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP).
NEW ADDITIONS
New phase of the Road to BAL, new faces. This seems to be Al Ahli Tripoli's mindset in the run-up to the Elite 16 in Abidjan.
Al Ahli Tripoli hit the market bringing new import players while keeping the core of locals.
Among Al Ahli Tripoli's new recruits are American Kevin Murphy, who featured for the Al Ahli Benghazi in the BAL season 4, Canadian-Nigerian Kelvin Amayo - a two-time BAL participant with Stade Malien and Rivers Hoopers, South Sudanese Deng Angok Yak Deng, British Kavel Chevano Bigby-Williams.
Can Al Ahli Tripoli make Libya proud again by passing the upcoming test in the West African City and move on to the next stage of the continents biggest premier club competition?
HEAD COACH
Coach Fouad Bou Chakra has been highly praised for leading Libya to a 2-1 mark in the first round of the FIBA AfroBasket 2025, where they beat Nigeria and Uganda in Group B last February in Monastir, Tunisia. Can Lebanese Chakra maintain his magic in the Road to BAL?
WHO ARE THEY PLAYING IN THE ELITE 16?
Drawn in Group B, Al Ahli Tripoli will go up against Kadji Sport Academy, Spintex Knights and Mighty Barolle.
ORIGINS OF AL AHLI TRIPOLI
Known locally as the club for the people, Al Ahli Tripoli Sport Club was founded in 1950.
FIBA