The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced an expanded multi-year partnership to launch initiatives aimed at empowering young basketball professionals and supporting Africa’s creative industries. The announcement was made during the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) in Algeria by BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall and Afreximbank Executive Vice President Kanayo Awani.

The expansion builds on Afreximbank’s existing support for BAL Advance, a program that strengthens financial literacy and leadership skills among BAL players and coaches. The league will introduce BAL Advance: Next Play in its sixth season starting in 2026, offering business workshops and strategic networking to help players and coaches develop entrepreneurial skills and leverage their perspectives to drive innovation across Africa’s sports ecosystem.

New programs for emerging professionals and creative industries

For the first time, Afreximbank will support emerging sports professionals through BAL Future Pros, a year-round program equipping early-career talent across Africa with skills, experience, and networks to build successful careers. Online applications for the program will open later in September on the NBA Careers and BAL websites. Selected participants will join various BAL departments by the end of the year.

The signing ceremony was followed by a thought leadership discussion and masterclass on the business of sport hosted by 2011 NBA champion and BAL Ambassador Ian Mahinmi. BAL and Afreximbank also conducted a BAL4Her camp for 20 U-23 female athletes from the local community at Staouéli Court in Algiers from September 5-6.

“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,” said Fall.

Mrs. Awani highlighted the BAL’s role in advancing the African creative sector. “Afreximbank is committed to supporting the BAL’s premier networking and thought-leadership events, including the league’s annual Innovation Summit. We will also support the launch of a new content series celebrating African fashion designers in sports that is set to debut soon,” she said.