The 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs are set to be a spectacular showcase of talent, prominently featuring a multitude of stars from the AfroBasket tournament. Scheduled to unfold in Pretoria, South Africa, from Friday, June 6, to Sunday, June 14, the BAL Playoffs will see an impressive convergence of national team players who are also gearing up for this year's AfroBasket in Angola, slated for August 12-24.

The presence of numerous international players underscores the growing stature and competitive intensity of the BAL. Notably, 13 of the 16 national teams that have qualified for the upcoming AfroBasket will have representatives participating in the BAL Playoffs. This strong representation highlights the BAL as a crucial platform for African basketball talent, bridging club and national team competitions.

The roster of players participating is diverse, including seasoned AfroBasket champions at both senior and junior levels, alongside emerging talents who are strong contenders for their national teams in Angola. Many of these athletes have already made significant impacts during the AfroBasket qualifiers, demonstrating their skill and readiness for top-tier African basketball.

Several teams in the BAL Playoffs boast a remarkable lineup of AfroBasket veterans. For instance, Al Ittihad features prominent Egyptian national team players such as Anas Mahmoud, who secured a silver medal at the 2013 AfroBasket, Youssef Aboushousha, a veteran of four AfroBasket tournaments, and Aly Ahmed, the MVP of the 2008 U18 AfroBasket. The team also incorporates South Sudanese talent like Jo Lual Acuil Jr. Rivers Hoopers of Nigeria is another team with a strong contingent, including Maxi Munanga from RD Congo and Guinean international Ahmed Doumbia, both with prior AfroBasket experience. Their coaching staff, featuring Ogoh Odaudu and Mohamed Abdulrahman, also brings extensive AfroBasket history from their time with the Nigerian national team.

US Monastir from Tunisia brings a wealth of championship experience. Key players include Firas Lahyani, an AfroBasket champion in 2017, and the highly decorated Mokhtar Ghayazi and Radhouane Slimane, who have each won the AfroBasket title three times (2011, 2017, 2021). APR from Rwanda also showcases a mix of Rwandan national team players like William Robeyns and Jean Jaques Nshobozwabyosenumukiza, complemented by international stars such as Senegal's Youssou Ndoye, an AfroBasket bronze medalist in both 2017 and 2021.

Petro de Luanda from Angola, a consistent powerhouse, fields Angolan national team members including Childe Dundao, a 2016 U18 AfroBasket champion, and Yanick Moreira, a 2015 AfroBasket silver medalist. They are joined by Côte d'Ivoire's Solo Diabate, a veteran of seven AfroBasket campaigns and a silver medalist in 2021. Kriol Star is packed with Cape Verdean national team stalwarts like Kenneti Mendes, Joel Almeida, and Ivan Almeida, all of whom have represented their country in multiple AfroBasket tournaments.

FUS Rabat from Morocco will also be a team to watch, with experienced players such as Soufiane Kourdou, a veteran of five AfroBasket editions, and Omar Abada, a two-time AfroBasket champion (2017, 2021) with Tunisia. Al Ahli Tripoli fields a diverse roster including Nigeria's Caleb Agada, Libyan internationals, and Egypt's Assem Marei, who earned a silver medal at the 2013 AfroBasket. The remarkable depth of experience across the league is evident: all eight teams competing in the BAL Playoffs have at least one player who has participated in either the AfroBasket tournament or its qualifiers, promising an exceptionally high level of competition.