The Basketball Africa League has inaugurated six renovated basketball courts in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, the organisation announced on Thursday. The initiative is part of NBA Africa's commitment to build or refurbish 1000 courts across the continent over the next ten years. Once operational, the venues are expected to host several thousand young people and local community members every year.
The first two courts were inaugurated on 30 September in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in partnership with the Société des Pétroles du Sénégal (PETROSEN), and on 3 October in Abidjan, in partnership with Wave Côte d'Ivoire. Further launches are scheduled through December in Dakar and Joal in Senegal, in Guédiawaye, and in Owerri, Nigeria. Each facility now features a refurbished playing surface, spectator seating and new equipment, with some sites also receiving modernised changing rooms, sanitary facilities and a lighting system.
Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the BAL, said the renovated courts reflect the league's desire to invest in communities and make basketball more accessible to young people across Africa. The Saint-Louis covered court, launched at Université Gaston Berger in the UNESCO-listed city, will serve students and the wider local population.
The Abidjan site, at Groupe Scolaire Lac de Koumassi, is expected to host nearly 3000 players each week, including 2500 pupils, and will run a development programme for 300 girls aged 18 and under drawn from eight schools. The Guédiawaye facility will be the first BAL4HER court ever built in Africa, under the league's programme promoting women and girls in basketball.
