The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is taking steps to ensure that the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) takes place this year.
The future of the league has been thrown into a state of confusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league was initially scheduled to start on March 13, 2020 in the Senegalese capital of Dakar.
But it has since been postponed following complaints by the Senegalese government over the escalating health concerns related to COVID-19.
Speaking on the subject, FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave said considerations are being made to ensure the league takes place.
FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave, believes that it is still possible to organise @theBAL this year.https://t.co/Nsd5uakp3e pic.twitter.com/99XbEOdT6j
— #BasketballAfricaLeague Qualifying Tournaments (@AfricaLeague) May 26, 2020
Manave, who doubles as President of the Board for the BAL, said his outfit is doing everything to make the league a reality before the year ends.
“It’s important to mention that all 12 BAL teams have made significant investments, which shows that those teams understood and committed to the BAL project,” he told Fiba.basketball.com.
“We’ll try to do everything in our power to make the Basketball Africa League a reality this year. We don’t want to cancel it. These teams should continue to believe in the BAL project.”
The BAL regular season was originally scheduled to take place across six African countries, with the Final Four pencilled for June in Kigali, Rwanda.
Manave said keeping the original format is the competition is one option but stressed that FIBA is considering two other formats.
Manave said keeping the original format is the competition is one option but stressed that FIBA is considering two other formats.
Explaining further, he said: “We have three scenarios: One: We keep BAL’s original format (regular season across six countries and the Final Phase in Rwanda); Two: BAL to be played in two countries with Nile Conference taking place in one county and Sahara Conference taking place in another country.
“The top four teams from each group advance to the Final Phase in Rwanda; Three: This year’s BAL is played in one country over the course of two weeks, including the Final Phase. We are working to find the best way out of this situation.”
