The Burundian Basketball Championship (in French: Championnat National du Burundi), also known as the Amstel Basketball League and previously Viva Basketball League for sponsorship reasons, is a semi-professional basketball league that is the highest level of the sport in Burundi. The league is organised by the Fédération de Basketball du Burundi (FEBABU).
In 2022, the league signed a 4-year sponsorship contract with malt drink producer Viva; the winners of the league win a prize money of 10 million FBu (approximately $4,800).
Current teams The following 12 teams played in the 2025 season. TeamCityFoundedAigle NoirMakamba2009DynamoBujumbura1968Gymkhana1982KernLes HipposLion TeamMuzingaNew Star2002RemeshaTigersUrunaniBujumbura1979Young EaglesGitega
List of winners
2012: Urunani 2013: Urunani 2014: Urunani 2015: 2016: Dynamo 2017: 2018: New Star 2019: Dynamo 2021: New Star 2022: Urunani 2023: Dynamo 2024: Urunani 2025: Dynamo 2026: Urunani
Finals National Championship Season ChampionsRunners-up Score MVP Urunani 2012UrunaniNew Star69–59Elvis Gafyisi 2013UrunaniNew Star 2014 Urunani New Star 50–54 Willy Nijimbere Urunani 2016DynamoImbeya72–59 2018 New Star Gymkhana 2019 Dynamo Urunani 76–54 Jean Hakizimana 2021 New Star Muzinga Ngozi 74–61
Viva Basketball League (2022–present) SeasonChampionsRunners-upFinals scoreMVPWinning coach 2022UrunaniNew StarAron Kagabo 2023DynamoUrunaniOlivier NdayiragijeUrunaniDynamoJean Jacques BoissyOlivier NdayiragijeDynamoUrunaniEtienne TametongJulien ChaignotUrunaniDynamoRomis BujejeElvis Hakizimana
In international competitions
FIBA Africa Clubs Champions Cup Urunani is the only Burundian team to have played in the FIBA Africa Club Champions Cup, the top-tier competition on the African continent. They played in the 2011 tournament, and in the 2013 tournament.
BAL Dynamo qualified successfully for the 2024 season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL). Dynamo defeated the Malagasy team COSPN 79–78 in the third place game, became the first team from Burundi to play in the league, and the first Elite 16 wild card to advance to the main tournament.
In the opening day game between Dynamo and South Africa's Cape Town Tigers, the Burundian side taped off the logo of league sponsor Visit Rwanda. Political tensions between the two border nations Burundi and Rwanda had been rising, as Burundi has accused Rwanda of supporting the RED-Tabara rebel militia in the country. Dynamo forfeited their second game against FUS Rabat on 10 March, with the BAL citing "refusing to comply with the league’s rules governing jersey and uniform requirements" as the reason why. Following Dynamo's second forfeit on 12 March, the team was automatically withdrawn from the group as per FIBA rules. Dynamo players Bryton Hobbs and Makhtar Gueye stated that the Burundian government had prohibited the team to wear the logo and ordered the club to forfeit its games if necessary. SeasonRepresentativeRoad to BALMain competitionW% Result QualifiedW% Result2021Dynamo 1 3 First Round colspan=3 rowspan=3 2022New Star42Fourth Place2023Urunani53Fourth Place2024Dynamo44 Third Place01.000Disqualified2025Urunani81 Third Placecolspan=3 Total 22 13 0 1.000
Heroes Cup The Heroes Cup (in French: Coupe des Heros) is a cup competition that is held to celebrate the Independence of Burundi and to commemorate its national heroes. It was established in 2017, and is organised by the non-profit organization Fondation Pax-Burundi. Teams from the first championship participate, as well as teams from the B Division. Edition Season ChampionsRunners-up Score MVP 12017DynamoMuzinga 53–48–22018Dynamo (2)Urunani71–3432019UrunaniGymkana60–5542020Dynamo (3)Muzinga Ngozi72–62Amani Rushoza52021Urunani (2)DynamoN/A62022Urunani (3)Dynamo82–8172023Dynamo (4)Urunani52–458202492025Dynamo (5)Remesha78–59
References
External links FEBABU official Facebook