Basketball Africa League expands Afreximbank partnership to empower players and creative industries

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Afreximbank’s partnership will help BAL players and coaches build financial literacy and entrepreneurial expertise.

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have expanded their collaboration to strengthen financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career development programs for basketball professionals and creative talent across Africa.

The announcement was made at the Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 in Algeria by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and Afreximbank Executive Vice President Kanayo Awani. The deal builds on the bank’s support for BAL Advance, the league’s program designed to improve financial and leadership skills among players and coaches.

New initiatives to prepare next generation of African leaders

Starting in 2026, Afreximbank will launch “BAL Advance: Next Play,” offering targeted workshops and networking opportunities to help players and coaches grow entrepreneurial skills and drive innovation across Africa’s sports industry.

The expanded partnership also introduces BAL Future Pros, a program that will provide early-career professionals with training, experience, and industry connections. Applications will open later this month on NBA Careers and BAL platforms, with participants set to join league departments by year-end.

BAL and Afreximbank highlight business of sport and women’s development

Following the signing, Fall joined Afreximbank Director Temwa Gondwe in a thought leadership session hosted by 2011 NBA champion and BAL ambassador Ian Mahinmi. The two organizations also staged a BAL4Her camp in Algiers for 20 under-23 female athletes.

“Our longstanding collaboration with Afreximbank is part of our commitment to using basketball as an economic growth engine,” Fall said. “We look forward to continuing to work with Afreximbank to grow the African basketball ecosystem and the continent’s broader sports industry.”

Awani emphasized the importance of the league in advancing Africa’s creative economy. “Afreximbank is committed to supporting BAL’s premier networking and thought-leadership events, including the annual Innovation Summit,” she said. “We will also back a new content series celebrating African fashion designers in sports, set to launch soon.”