Sports is one of the most important tools for social transformation. Africa, having faced a history of suffering and still dealing with many issues today, is using sports as an important means to change and make its name heard globally once again.
Although basketball occupies a wide space in terms of popularity globally, it has recently gained more popularity in the African continent.
The main reason for this increase in popularity comes from the influence the NBA has globally. African basketball players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Serge Ibaka, and Manute Bol, along with African-descended players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, have contributed to the rise in popularity.
Additionally, projects like Giants of Africa, founded by Masai Ujiri, president of the NBA team Toronto Raptors, have helped increase this popularity. The project aims to create opportunities for players on the continent by organizing training camps, growing the sport, and instilling values in the next generation.
Moreover, since 2015, the NBA has initiated projects like the Africa Game and the Basketball Africa League in collaboration with FIBA, creating an environment for the development of talent across the continent.
In 2025, there are events awaiting African basketball fans. In particular, the third window of the qualifying rounds for Afrobasket, which has been gaining increased interest, is eagerly awaited by basketball enthusiasts on the continent.
The 5th season of BAL will take place from April to June, with 12 teams divided into three conferences and participating in a 12-match group phase. Additionally, the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup event will see Mali, the 2024 FIBA U18 AfroBasket champions, and Cameroon, the runners-up, participating.
Mali and Nigeria will also take part in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup. Angola will host this year’s AfroBasket. Furthermore, the WBLA (Women’s Basketball League Africa) will be played around December.
In summary, there is a growing interest in basketball across Africa. Many currently popular NBA players have African roots. However, basketball played on the continent is still far from that level.
While the recent increase in organized events will help showcase the continent’s talent, it seems that time is needed for the quality of the league to improve.