Al Ahli Tripoli have reached the finals of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) for the first time in their history after defeating Rwanda’s APR 84–71 in a thrilling semi-final clash.
The match, held as part of the fifth edition of the BAL tournament, was tightly contested from the start. APR edged the first quarter 18–17, showing early signs of dominance. However, Al Ahli Tripoli bounced back strongly in the second quarter, taking control and heading into half-time with a 36–29 lead.
APR regrouped in the third quarter, regaining momentum and overtaking Al Ahli Tripoli to lead 57–55 by its conclusion. The intensity increased, and the result remained uncertain going into the final quarter.
But Al Ahli Tripoli produced a stunning turnaround in the last period. With sharp offensive execution and disciplined defence, they overpowered APR, whose attacking efforts faltered under pressure. Al Ahli’s players surged ahead with a flurry of points, ultimately sealing the match with a 13-point margin.
The Libyan team’s victory marks a milestone in its sporting history, as they now await their final opponent—either Egypt’s Al Ittihad Alexandria or Angola’s Petro de Luanda. The winner of that clash will face Al Ahli Tripoli in the BAL final.
This historic achievement highlights the growth of Libyan basketball on the continental stage and cements Al Ahli Tripoli’s status as one of the emerging forces in African basketball.
