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Français (Afrique)BAL 2026: 10 things you need to know about the concluded Kalahari Conference
Over the course of eight game days, Pretoria was at the heart of African basketball as six teams from six different countries competed in the Kalahari Conference for one of the four spots available in the 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL 2026) Playoffs.
There were many dramatic events in Pretoria, including long-standing records being broken, a newcomer causing a surprise by advancing to the post-season, and thousands of fans making their presence felt throughout.
In the end:
- Debutants RSSB Tigers of Rwanda finished top of the conference with a 4–1 record, as did Petro de Luanda. The Tigers won the conference thanks to their head-to-head win over Petro.
- The RSSB Tigers (4–1), Petro de Luanda (4–1), Al Ahly Ly (3–2) and Dar City (2–3) qualified for the 2026 BAL Playoffs, which are scheduled to take place next month in Kigali, Rwanda. Meanwhile, Nairobi City Thunder (2–3) and the Johannesburg Giants (0–5) were eliminated.
- RSSB Tigers’ shooting guard, Craig Randall II, set a new BAL scoring record with 54 points in the 104–92 win against Dar City. In the same game, Randall II set a new record for three-pointers by successfully making 11 of his long-range shots.
- Al Ahly Ly guard Damion Baugh set a new BAL assists record with 18 in a 118–97 win over Dar City.
- The 215 points scored in the Al Ahly Ly vs Dar City game (final score 118–97) are now the most ever scored in a BAL game.
- For the first time in BAL history, 10 games saw a team score 100 points or more.
- Fans consistently packed the SunBet Arena throughout the 15-game conference.
- The BAL celebrated its 200th game since its inception in 2021, with a match between Petro de Luanda and the Nairobi City Thunder.
- As of 5 April 2026, Childe Dundao of Petro de Luanda holds the BAL record for the most minutes played in the league, at 1,073.55.
- Damion Baugh, Al Ahly’s point guard, achieved the first triple-double in BAL history. This feat was achieved on 4 April 2026, in a 110–72 victory against Dar City. Baugh achieved double figures in three key categories, finishing with 11 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds.
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Sprinters expected to light up the track at Hezekiel Sepeng Invitational
All eyes will be locked on what is expected to be a thrilling men’s 100m race when the domestic senior athletics season gains momentum on Tuesday night (5.30pm start) at the Hezekiel Sepeng Invitational, a World Athletics Challenger Tour track and field meeting taking place in Potchefstroom.
The short dash should light up the track at NWU McArthur Stadium, with a packed line-up that features some of the fastest men in Africa.
The field includes national record holder Akani Simbine, a three-time Olympic Games finalist, as well as 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, who will be eager to prove he still has the speed that made him the most versatile sprinter on the planet earlier in his career.
Other athletes to watch include African Championships medallist Benjamin Richardson, who previously represented South Africa but has switched allegiance to Ireland (though he is still based in Potchefstroom), and fellow sub-10 athlete Retshidisitswe Mlenga, a former world youth champion.
Other events
Aside from the men’s 100m sprint, a number of other events on the programme are likely to have the crowd on its feet.
The men’s long jump competition features five athletes who have cleared eight metres in their careers, spearheaded by former world champion and national record holder Luvo Manyonga, who will look to take another step forward after returning to top-flight competition last year following a second career ban for taking recreational drugs.
Manyonga is up against the likes of Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jovan van Vuuren and Namibian national record holder Lionel Coetzee.
Among the women, the biggest battle of the night is expected to be waged between local favourite Jo-Ane du Plessis and Czech athlete Nikola Ogrodnikova, who earned the silver and bronze medals respectively in the javelin throw final at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Other athletes in the entry lists include former world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso, who lines up in the women’s 800m race; Olympic 800m finalist Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana, who turns out in the men’s two-lap contest; Czech athlete Jakub Vadlejch, a three-time World Championships medallist who goes in the men’s javelin throw; and national women’s 100m hurdles record holder Marione Fourie, who is up against rising junior star Tumi Ramokgopa.
Mauritanie: négociations restreintes entre majorité et oppositions en vue d’un dialogue national
En Mauritanie, les réunions préparatoires au dialogue national ont repris ce 6 avril au palais des congrès de Nouakchott. Après une semaine d’impasse sur la question ultrasensible de la limitation des mandats présidentiels, un compromis semble se dessiner sous l’impulsion du chef de l’État. Mais si une partie de l'opposition joue la carte de l'apaisement, d'autres dénoncent une manœuvre constitutionnelle.
Eric Ouma: Kenyan nears return from injury, returns to Poland
Speedy Kenya national team Harambee Stars defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is close to stepping on the grass again with the ball at his team Raków Częstochowa in Poland for the first time in nine months.
The 29-year-old left-back suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during a training session with the Polish champions on 28 August 2025, denting a blow to his 2025-26 football season for both club and country.
Harambee Stars defender Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma is close to stepping on the grass again with the ball at his team Raków Częstochowa in Poland for the first time in nine months. pic.twitter.com/2NbBvJxci5
— Dennis Mabuka (@DennisMabu4694) April 7, 2026
‘Marcelo’ has been doing his recovery sessions in Nairobi but has now rejoined his club for further checks before getting a node for a return-to-play from Raków’s medical department.
‘I can start to train with the team’
Though he has ruled out featuring in competitive football this season, ‘Marcelo’ revealed the great news about his recovery journey.
“This week I am supposed to do the RTP (return to play tests). Everything will be assessed and hopefully I can start to train with the team and for sure, I am looking forward to the next season,” said Ouma.
“For this season, there are like eight games remaining and I have been out for more than seven months. You know I cannot just come back and start to play immediately since there are protocols that need to be followed.
“This means I have to understand what my body wants. The focus for me is for the next season.”
Ouma debuted for Kenya in 2016
The former Gor Mahia player has made 47 appearances for Raków Częstochowa since joining the club from Swedish side AIK in 2024.
He has scored one goal and provided six assists for Raków. Born in Awasi, Kisumu County, Ouma signed a six-month contract with Gor Mahia in January 2016, before renewing it until the end of the year during the summer.
Ouma left Gor Mahia at the end of his contract, going on to sign a six-month contract with Georgian club Kolkheti Poti in January 2017.
In February 2018 he moved to Albanian club KS Kastrioti, and by September 2018 he was playing for Swedish club Vasalund, for whom he made 22 appearances, scoring 2 goals.
Ouma made his international debut for Kenya in 2016, and was part of the squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.
Commission de l'Océan Indien : Edgard Razafindravahy démissionne
Le vent de rupture insufflé par le régime transitoire prend une ampleur inattendue. Après des changements opérés dans plusieurs secteurs clés de l'administration, la dynamique atteint désormais les instances internationales, illustrée par la démission du secrétaire général de la Commission de l'océan Indien (COI), Edgard Razafindravahy.
Vendredi, ce dernier a officiellement remis sa démission au président du Conseil des ministres de la COI. Un départ qui n'a rien d'anodin, tant les dirigeants de la Refondation avaient laissé entendre, ces derniers mois, leur volonté de voir un nouveau visage occuper ce poste stratégique. Pourtant, son accession à cette fonction ne relevait pas d'une décision unilatérale d'un régime politique malgache mais bien d'un choix collégial des États membres de la COI, qui l'avaient élu à l'unanimité en juillet 2024.
Son mandat, écourté après seulement vingt et un mois sur les quatre années prévues, ne semble entaché d'aucune faute. Aucun manquement, aucune irrégularité n'a été signalé par l'instance régionale. Son passage est même associé à certaines avancées, l'organisation a également gagné en présence et en visibilité lors de son mandat.
Ce départ s'inscrit néanmoins dans un climat politique tendu, où certains observateurs évoquent une logique de mise à l'écart ciblée. Des figures perçues comme proches de l'ancien président Andry Rajoelina semblent particulièrement visées, alimentant les critiques sur une éventuelle chasse aux sorcières. Une lecture d'autant plus discutée que, parallèlement, certaines personnalités liées à d'anciens responsables, notamment de l'entourage de l'ex-Premier ministre Christian Ntsay, continuent d'occuper des fonctions au sein du gouvernement actuel.
Cette apparente sélectivité interroge sur la cohérence de la stratégie en cours. Entre volonté de renouvellement et règlements de comptes politiques, la frontière reste floue.
Reste désormais à savoir qui succédera à Edgard Razafindravahy. La décision appartient au Conseil des ministres de la COI. Madagascar proposera-t-il un nouveau candidat ou laissera-t-il émerger une autre nationalité, conformément au principe de rotation ? L'issue de cette désignation sera scrutée de près, tant elle pourrait révéler l'équilibre réel des influences dans la région.
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