During the group phase of the 2022 Road to BAL, a number of facts could have gone unnoticed. Games took place in Antananarivo, Dar es Salaam, Niamey, and Yaounde, in late October, and saw various teams make it to the elite 16 round. Here are some of the takeaways from the group phase:
Female coaches
A wave of female coaches are joining men's basketball programs in Africa and the likes of Lucy Ngodamwilanga (Army Basketball Club), Alexandra Kotta (Bangui Sporting Club), and Ruth Glenna Bibeyi (Espoir Basket) left their mark as assistant coaches in the Road to BAL. It's a record number of female coaches in a FIBA Africa men's competition.
Undefeated teams
Four teams advanced to the Elite 16 Round with perfect records. Those teams are Abidjan Basket Club (3-0), Urunani (3-0), Bangui Sporting Club (2-0), and COSPN (2-0). Last minute withdrawals reduced the number of participating teams from four to three in Groups B and D.
Biggest win margin
Kenya Ports Authority registered the biggest win margin after trouncing Comoro Islands' Djabal Club 120-37.
Narrowest win margin
After Bangui Sporting Club won their first two games, which ensured the Central African Republic's club a place in the next round, the clash between Nueva Era (Equatorial Guinea) and Espoir Sport (Gabon) was a do-or-die game for either in Group B's last game. Eventually, Nueva Era prevailed 66-64 in what was the narrowest win margin.
Host teams’ struggles
Except for COSPN (Group D), host clubs Army Basketball Club (Group C) and AS Nigelec (Group A) failed to advance to the Elite 16 Round. Teams from Group B played in a neutral city in Yaounde.
Top scorer in the Group Phase
City Oilers guard Germain Roebuck Jr. was a key factor for the Ugandan champions after averaging a tournament-high of 24.6 points per game.
Double-doubles
Only two players recorded double-doubles in the build-up to the Elite 16 Round. Those players are Francis Azolibe (City Oilers), who contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 64-58 loss to Urunani. The other player to record doubles figures in two categories of the game was Matero Magic's Chongo Chona who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 57-52 loss to Army Basketball Club.
31 points apiece
Baraka Athumani and Germaine Roebuck Jr. entered this year's Road to BAL as the only players to score over 30 points in a game.
In a game that would ensure the last ticket for Group C's teams to the Elite 16 Round, Roebuck Jr ignited City Oilers offense with 31 points in a 71-63 win over hosts Army Basketball Club in the last day of Group C's action. Army Basketball Club's Athumani finished with 31 points in the losing cause.