The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have expanded their multi-year collaboration to launch new initiatives aimed at developing young basketball professionals and strengthening Africa’s sports and creative industries.
The announcement was made at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algiers by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and Afreximbank Executive Vice President Kanayo Awani.
Under the deal, Afreximbank will extend support for BAL Advance, the league’s financial literacy and leadership programme, with the introduction of “BAL Advance: Next Play” during the 2026 season. The initiative will provide business workshops and networking opportunities to help players and coaches build entrepreneurial skills.
The bank will also support BAL Future Pros, a new year-round programme designed to equip early-career professionals across Africa with the skills and experience to build successful sports careers. Online applications will open later in September on the NBA and BAL careers websites, with selected candidates joining BAL departments before the end of the year.
“Our longstanding collaboration with Afreximbank is part of our commitment to using basketball as an economic growth engine and the BAL as a platform to develop and showcase African excellence,” Fall said.
Mrs. Awani stressed Afreximbank’s commitment to supporting Africa’s creative economy, noting plans to back the league’s Innovation Summit and launch a content series celebrating African fashion designers in sports.
The announcement was followed by a business-of-sport masterclass led by BAL ambassador and former NBA champion Ian Mahinmi. BAL and Afreximbank also hosted a BAL4Her camp in Algiers for 20 female athletes under 23.
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