The championship spotlight might belong to Saturday’s grand finale, but don’t sleep on tonight’s showdown. When Al Ittihad Alexandria and APR Rwanda step onto the hardwood at Pretoria’s SunBet Arena this evening (7PM CAT), it won’t just be for third place.

It’ll be for pride, for redemption, and for one last shot at leaving the 2025 Basketball Africa League with their heads held high.This is the bronze medal brawl—and it’s personal.

Two Titans, One Last Task

For Al Ittihad, tonight is about restoration. The Egyptian juggernaut came into the playoffs undefeated (8–0), boasting the tournament’s best regular-season record and a squad loaded with shooters, big men, and depth for days. But in Thursday’s semifinal, all of that came crashing down against Petro de Luanda. The Angolans handed them their first loss—96 to 74—and exposed cracks in their defensive rotation and three-point execution.The numbers don’t lie: Ittihad shot just 19% from beyond the arc and coughed up 15 turnovers.

For a team built on rhythm and perimeter movement, the gears stalled at the worst time.

APR, on the other hand, know a thing or two about being underestimated. The Rwandan side pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets when they knocked out defending champions Petro in the quarterfinals. But just as quickly as they rose, they were grounded by a slick, confident Al Ahli Tripoli in the semis. APR lost 84–71, with only Nuni Omot consistently finding his range (22 points). The rest of the squad struggled to convert open looks, especially from deep—shooting a shaky 22% from three.

Tonight, both squads find themselves in unfamiliar territory: not chasing a trophy, but fighting to finish strong.

Key Matchups and Things to Watch

This isn’t just a side note. This is a battle between two elite systems with something to prove—and players hungry to shine one more time.

The Big Men Battle: APR’s Aliou Diarra has been a block machine and a beast on the boards all tournament long. Ittihad will counter with their frontcourt size and veteran post presence. Expect elbows, rebounds, and muscle plays.

Can Ittihad’s shooters bounce back? After going ice cold in the semis, the Egyptians need their snipers to show up. Majok Deng, who had 17 in the semifinal loss, will be expected to lead the recovery mission.

Bench Energy: Petro outscored Ittihad’s bench 60–35 on Thursday. Tonight, depth might be the difference.

APR’s Tempo: When APR are running, they’re dangerous. Their transition game stunned Petro in the quarterfinals. Can they recreate that magic against a defensively structured side like Ittihad?

Third place in a continental championship may not be the dream—but it’s no small feat. This game means bragging rights. It means finishing on a win. It means going home with a medal and momentum heading into the next domestic season.

For APR, a win would make a statement for Rwandan basketball: that their BAL growth is real, and sustainable. For Ittihad, it’s a chance to prove that the semifinal stumble was just that—a stumble, not a slide.

And let’s be honest—after the emotion, the upsets, and the heartbreak of the past few days, both teams will be out for release.

Expect intensity. Expect pace. Expect a little bit of showmanship.

The Final Word

Third-place games don’t always get the love they deserve. But this one’s got grit, narrative, and firepower. Whether it ends with APR’s fast-break flair or Ittihad’s bounce-back statement, this is a must-watch game for any true BAL fan.

So if you’re tuning in tonight, don’t blink. There’s still one podium spot left—and neither team’s going home quietly.