Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye hosted his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame as the two leaders attended a Basketball Africa League (BAL) game together on Sunday, May 12th at the Dakar Arena.
The African heads of state witnessed local club AS Douanes defeat the Rwandan Patriotic Army Basketball Club 79-54 in a “pleasant and hard-fought match in fair play” that clinched the final playoff spot for the BAL4 tournament.
Home fans turned out in large numbers to cheer on AS Douanes, the 2023 BAL runners-up, who trailed early before securing the comprehensive win.
But the rare joint attendance by the two presidents highlighted the unifying power of sports and the growing prominence of the BAL continental club tournament.
Taking to social media after the game, President Faye, the host, praised the organizers for their “inspiration and leadership” in enabling “these wonderful moments of communion with African youth.”
With the victory, AS Douanes joined clubs from Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Angola, South Africa and Tunisia in qualifying for the 2024 BAL Playoffs scheduled from May 24 to June 1 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Launched in 2019, the BAL aims to develop and promote club basketball across Africa while providing opportunities for young talent.
For the visiting President Kagame, an avid basketball fan, the outing allowed him to show support while experiencing the passion surrounding Africa’s premier basketball event in the nation hosting this year’s playoffs.
The presidential presence courtside added prestige to an event capturing the imagination of players, fans and officials since its inception, as African nations invest in the sport’s growth.
With the win, AS Douanes secured the last playoffs ticket, joining Al Ahly SC (Egypt), Al Ahly Ly (Libya), FUS Rabat (Morocco), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), Petro de Luanda (Angola), Cape Town Tigers (South Africa) and US Monatir (Tunisia).
The 2024 BAL Playoffs will run from May 24 to June 1 at BK Arena in the Rwandan capital.
