Basketball continues to grow on the continent and is becoming a desirable destination for basketball players worldwide. However, everyone wants to know which leagues are the top leagues in Africa. We will be doing a series where list the top leagues on the continent. We use a subjective but common metric to define this list. The indicators used are how long the league lasts, if there is a second division, the history of the league, known salaries, infrastructure, access to the public and the route to BAL. Here are our top 6 leagues:
1. Egyptian Basketball Premier league. This league was founded in 1972 and is run by the Egyptian basketball Federation. The league starts in September of the previous year and runs through to May/June of the following year. There are 16 teams in the league and the bottom two are relegated to the second division and the top two of the second division are promoted to the Premier League. The teams also play in the Egypt Cup and Egypt Super Cup. The league is known to pay a good average salary. Enough for first division players to make a living off it. The winner of the league gets immediate qualification to the BAL. They host the Nile Conference of the BAL in Cairo.
2. Championnat Pro A is the top basketball league in Tunisia. It started in 1956 and is run by the Tunisian Federation. It has a rich history and is embedded in the tapestry of Tunisian sports. There are 10 teams in the top division where the bottom team gets relegated to the Pro B. The league runs from October in the previous year to June in the following. The winners of the league get automatic qualification to the BAL. They are ranked amongst the top 25 paying countries in basketball in the world.
3. Unitel Basket is the top league in Angola. It was founded in 1977. Prior to that, there was a Super Cup where the top 2 teams would play in a tournament against the top tow teams in Mozambique and Portugal. This only fueled the growth of basketball in the country. There are 13 teams and the bottom 2 get relegated to the second division. The league runs from October to May. The winners are also guaranteed a direct qualification to the BAL.
4. Division Excellence is the top league in Morocco. It was founded in 1935 and has 12 teams that compete with the bottom 2 getting relegated at the end of the season. They also play in the Moroccan Throne Cup. The league runs from September to July and offers a good salary to its players. The league starts in September and plays through to July in the following year.
5. Rwanda Basketball League is the top league in Rwanda. It was started in 1977 but the 1994 Genocide threw the sport back. However, it began to grow in popularity again in the early 2000s. It now attracts some of the most sought-after international talent. They also play in the Rwanda Cup and Super Cup. The league runs from February to July. The winner gets automatic qualification to the BAL. They host the playoffs of the BAL in Kigali.
6. Nationale 1 (NM1) is the top division in Senegal. Senegal has a rich history of basketball and has produced many great talents. The league started in 1971. There are now 10 teams and the bottom 2 teams get relegated to the NM2. They also play in the Senegalese Cup and Super Cup. The league starts in January and runs all the way through to July. They host the Sahara Conference of the BAL. The winner gets automatic to the BAL.
This list is very dynamic as is the case with basketball in Africa. Nevertheless, the leagues keep expanding as the sport continues to grow in Africa. Much of that is due to the inception and presence of the BAL.
