Spintex Knights stranded in Libya over $33,000 debt despite BAL qualification

Ghana’s Basketball Africa League (BAL) representatives, Spintex Knights, find themselves stranded in Libya due to a debt of approximately $33,000, which includes flight tickets and visa-on-arrival charges. Despite qualifying for the BAL Elite 16 after winning all three of their Group B games in the Division West preliminary stage, the team is unable to return home.

This marks the second time in a row that the Knights have reached this stage, having done so for the first time in 2024 as the first Ghanaian club to achieve such a feat. Club co-founder Dr. Eric Opoku-Antwi has confirmed that the team needs GH¢350,000 (about $30,234.57) to cover these expenses, bringing the total debt to around $33,000.

The club has been grappling with financial difficulties since its inception three years ago and is now reaching out for urgent support to clear the debt and facilitate the players' return. Ghana Basketball Federation president Alex Kukula expressed disappointment with the situation, acknowledging that the federation itself has limited resources for team travel.

The club is currently awaiting a response from the Ministry of Sports and Recreation while also seeking public assistance through a donation platform. The players are set to compete in the Elite 16 stage in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from November 10-15, 2026, where the top two teams will secure spots for the 2027 BAL season. For Spintex Knights, resolving the travel debt is the immediate priority to ensure the players can return home and prepare for the next phase of the competition.