- The 2026 Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division is set to tip off on Tuesday, November 18, and will run through to Sunday, November 23.
- The tournament is being held in Nairobi, Kenya, at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
- The two finalist teams will earn automatic qualification for next year’s BAL tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Road to the Basketball Africa League 2026 Elite 16 East Division is set to tip off on Tuesday, November 18, culminating in the finals on Sunday, November 23.
After successfully hosting the same event last season, Kenya has once again been awarded the hosting rights, with all matches to be staged at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
Unlike the usual eight-team format, this year’s East Division will feature only seven teams vying for two coveted automatic spots to qualify for next year’s Basketball Africa League at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
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The seven contenders are the hosts, Nairobi City Thunder; Tanzania’s Dar City Basketball; South Africa’s Johannesburg Giants, Mozambican champions Ferroviario da Beira; Zambia’s Matero Magic, Uganda’s Namuwongo Blazers; and Malawi’s Bravehearts Basketball Club, who complete the lineup.
2026 Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division: Nairobi City Thunder preview
Nairobi City Thunder secured an automatic qualification for the Elite 16 East Division.
This privilege stems from their historic achievement last year, where they became the first Kenyan team ever to qualify for the BAL.
Now, the squad is not only aiming for a consecutive BAL qualification but also looking to defend the East Division title they clinched on their home court last season.
The team enters this high-stakes tournament with tremendous momentum, fresh off another dominant campaign in the Kenya National Basketball League.
They not only secured back-to-back titles but also extended their remarkable undefeated streak to 60 games in the KNBL.
ALSO READ: Nairobi City Thunder make history with first BAL victory
They headline Pool A, where they will face Uganda’s giants, Namuwongo Blazers, who earned their spot by topping Group D in the qualifiers held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Their campaign included a resounding 132-58 victory over Comoros’ Djabal.
Thunder will also contend with South Africa’s Johannesburg Giants, who punched their ticket to the Elite 16 with a commanding 84-62 victory over Matero Magic in their Road to BAL 2026 qualifier.
NCT, led by coach Bradly Ibs, have strengthened their roster significantly, including the re-signing of 2020 BAL champion and Defensive Player of the Year Ater Majok.
They have also added point guard Chase Adams from Jackson State University.
The team retains key contributors such as Garang Diing, who impressed last season and Albert Odero, better known as “Kenya Airways,” along with leadership from their seasoned captain Tylor Ongwae, popularly known as “Mr. Tee.”
Meanwhile, Pool B will be headlined by Malawi’s Bravehearts Basketball Club, alongside Dar City of Tanzania, Ferroviario da Beira of Mozambique, and Zambia’s Matero Magic.
Bravehearts, Matero Magic, and Ferroviario da Beira are familiar foes, having been drawn together in the same qualifying group earlier this month at the Nasdec Arena in Lusaka, Zambia.
This sets the stage for a highly competitive pool where each team is already well-acquainted with the others’ strategies.
ALSO READ: Nairobi City Thunder’s groundbreaking season: A year to remember
What’s at Stake for 2026 Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division teams?
The top two teams from the East Division will join two qualifiers from the West Division.
These four teams will then advance to the final phase of the BAL, where they will join the eight directly qualified teams from Nigeria, Tunisia, Angola, Senegal, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda.
Ticketing Information: 2026 Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division
Fans interested in watching Nairobi City Thunder in the BAL Elite 16 East Division can secure their tickets by clicking the following link BAL Elite 16 East Division.
Tickets are categorized into three tiers: Regular tickets are priced at KES 200, VIP tickets at KES 500, and VVIP tickets for those who want the ultimate courtside experience, are available for KES 3,000.
2026 Road to BAL Elite 16 East Division: Fixtures, Kick-off Times, and Full Schedule
Nairobi, Kenya | All times in East Africa Time (EAT): Kasarani Indoor Arena
Pools
- Pool A: Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya) – Hosts, Namuwongo Blazers (Uganda), Johannesburg Giants (South Africa)
- Pool B: Bravehearts Basketball Club (Malawi), Dar City Basketball (Tanzania), Ferroviario da Beira (Mozambique), Matero Magic (Zambia)
Match Day One – Tuesday, November 18, 2025
- Ferroviario da Beira vs Bravehearts BBC: 1:00 PM
- Dar City Basketball vs Matero Magic: 3:30 PM
- Namuwongo Blazers vs Nairobi City Thunder: 6:00 PM
Day Two – Wednesday, November 19, 2025
- Bravehearts vs Dar City: 1:00 PM
- Matero Magic v Ferroviario da Beira: 3:30 PM
- Johannesburg Giants vs Namuwongo Blazers: 6:00 PM
Match Day Three – Thursday, November 20, 2025
- Bravehearts vs Matero Magic: 1:00 PM
- Dar City vs Ferroviario da Beira: 3:30 PM
- Nairobi City Thunder vs Johannesburg Giants: 6:00 PM
Friday, November 21: Rest Day
Saturday, November 22: Semi-finals
Sunday, November 23: Finals