Five-time WNBA All-Star Angel McCoughtry and Angolan basketball star Carlos Morais participated in the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Celebrity Game in Accra.
The game, dubbed "BAL in Accra," took place on Friday, December 27, 2024, at the Bokum Arena to celebrate basketball, lifestyle, and entertainment ahead of the 2025 season tip-off.
The event featured two teams: Team DJ Tunez and Team Smallgod. DJ Tunez, born Michael Babatunde Adeyinka, is a renowned Nigerian DJ who led his team against Ghanaian DJ and entrepreneur Nana Kwame Appiasei, also known as Smallgod.
Angel McCoughtry, along with Ghanaian musicians Spacely, Joey B, and RJZ, played for Team Smallgod, while Angolan duo Carlos Morais and Jone Pedro were the standout players for Team DJ Tunez.
DJ Tunez opened the scoring with the first basket of the night, while Smallgod leveled the score a few minutes later.
The two teams traded baskets, thrilling the fans and keeping them on their feet. Angel McCoughtry received rousing applause after executing a sensational layup, maneuvering past two defenders.
Morais and Pedro responded at the other end, with Morais setting up Pedro for a powerful dunk.
Team DJ Tunez eventually edged out Team Smallgod in the eventful game, winning 65–60. Carlos Morais was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) after an outstanding performance.
Speaking after the game, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall expressed his delight with the fan turnout, describing the event as "special."
"Amazing display of energy from the crowd and, obviously, an incredible performance by all the players on the court. All these players are entertainers. I'm very proud of the crowd who turned up in big numbers, and this was a special afternoon," he told the media.
"The continuous engagement with our fans just shows the passion for basketball and the lifestyle brand we are building with the league. Ghana and Accra are important markets for us, and we aim to host more programs here," he added.
The 2025 BAL season is scheduled to tip off on April 5, 2025, in Morocco, with the final set to take place in South Africa in June.
EE/MA
Shout out to the MVP of the first-ever BAL Celebrity Game powered by @Afrofuture and curated by @Hennessy: Carlos Morais! 🏆🇦🇴🏀
— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) December 28, 2024
An incredible performance that lit up the court and made history in Accra. 🌟🇬🇭 pic.twitter.com/0ERdFA7ale
