FIBA Africa President Manave: BAL Is Fueling Africa’s Basketball Boom

The energy around African basketball continues to rise, and FIBA Africa President Anibal Manave believes the Basketball Africa League (BAL) is at the heart of that momentum.

Speaking during the opening press conference of the 2026 BAL Kalahari Conference in Pretoria, South Africa, Manave—alongside NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamazi and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall—highlighted how the BAL has become a driving force behind the sport’s growth across the continent.

Manave pointed to the long-standing collaboration between FIBA Africa and the NBA as a key pillar in building a sustainable basketball structure.

"We are affirming our partnership with NBA. This Partnership between NBA &  FIBA has created a pathway for the development of African talent. The BAL is more than a league. It is the top of the ecosystem that FIBA has been building for decades in Africa."

According to Manave, that ecosystem is now delivering tangible results, with multiple competitions feeding into one another and giving players consistent opportunities to develop and compete.

"Through competitions such as BAL, AfroBasket, Afrocan, our youth competitions, Road to BAL and youth camps, we have created an amazing pathway for African talent and this pathway is delivering amazing results."

He emphasized that the benefits of this system are becoming increasingly visible at the highest levels of continental basketball, particularly in flagship tournaments.

"In 2025, there was AfroBasket in Angola that was the best in terms of quality and competitiveness. In the final the majority of players in those teams where champions during Under 16 & 18 FIBA African championships. In these two teams, there were no naturalized players." Manave pointed out before adding "More than 80 players competed in BAL season 5 and they participated in Qualifiers and AfroBasket."

Manave described these developments as clear evidence of the BAL’s growing influence on African competitions.

"This is a strong demonstration of the impact of BAL on our championships. The 2025 champion- Al Ahli Tripoli- came from Road to BAL, and that's a good indication of the increased level of competitiveness in our tournaments"

Beyond the players on the court, Manave also highlighted structural improvements within the game, from development programs to officiating standards.

"The impact is tangible.More than 60 players at Afrobasket came from FIBA development camps which are the fruits of partnerships between FIBA & NBA. 70% of BAL referees are FIBA trained. The level today is higher. FIBA Africa developed the foundation and BAL created the pathway to such development."

With the BAL now entering its sixth season, the partnership between FIBA and NBA Africa continues to shape a more competitive and connected basketball landscape across the continent, signaling steady progress and a promising future for the game in Africa.

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[Photography Courtesy of BAL & Africa Basket]