The Basketball Africa League has refurbished a playing court in Owerri, Imo State, as part of a six-court project spanning Nigeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast aimed at strengthening grassroots basketball. The Owerri venue, unveiled in partnership with Qatar Foundation in December, will be the second BAL4HER court in Africa.
Two-time WNBA All-Star and BAL ambassador Chiney Ogwumike will back the launch through her nonprofit Queens of the Continent. The court already serves more than 300 participants across Imo State.
Renovations include upgraded changing rooms and bathrooms, improved lighting and better drainage, transforming the site into a dedicated space for organised sport, youth development and community engagement. The project supports NBA Africa's pledge to build or renovate 1,000 courts across the continent over the next decade.
"These newly refurbished courts reflect our commitment to investing in communities and making the game more accessible to young people across Africa," BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall said. The first four courts have been unveiled in Saint-Louis (September 30), Abidjan (October 3), Joal (October 7) and Dakar (October 9). The first BAL4HER court in Guédiawaye, Senegal, is scheduled for October 30 with Qatar Foundation.
