Women’s basketball in Africa got a timely boost as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Afreximbank came together to host the U23 “BAL4HER” basketball camp and a series of thought leadership discussions on the creative industries and sports business in Cairo, Egypt from 9-15 November, 2023
This program was held in conjunction with Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an Afreximbank initiative designed to support the creative industries in Africa, at the Intra-African Trade Fair.
In bid to garner and grow interest among young women who are interested in basketball in Africa, the event saw twenty female players join two female referees and two female table officials in a camp at Cairo International Stadium.
The hope is that “BAL4HER will promote equality not only among fans but also local stakeholders and develop pipelines and recruitment opportunities for women to fully participate and be visible across BAL operations. The key aim was to ensure that, through BAL in-arena assets, team engagements, and collaborative efforts with corporate and community partners, the BAL provides support and brings awareness to organisations that advance gender equality.
“We are delighted to work with Afreximbank to positively impact the entire basketball ecosystem throughout our fourth season,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall ahead of the event.
“As a pan-African bank deeply rooted in the continent, Afreximbank champions youth empowerment through the creative industries and various mentorship programs and we look forward to working together to expand the BAL’s impact well beyond the lines of the court.”
On the international front, Nigeria continue to dominate women’s basketball on the continent. They won a record fourth FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title in August this year. The last team to win four in a row was Senegal, back in the 1970’s.
This latest basketball initiative will go a long way in raising the profile of the women’s game in Africa, getting girls and women involved in the sport, in some way shape or form.
Main Photo Caption: Women’s basketball in Africa got a timely boost as the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Afreximbank came together to host the U23 “BAL4HER” basketball camp and a series of thought leadership discussions on the creative industries and sports business in Cairo, Egypt from 9-15 November. Photo: Basketball Africa League
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