www.BAL.NBA.com<\/a>) today announced that the league is unveiling six newly refurbished basketball courts in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal in support of NBA Africa\u2019s commitment to build or renovate 1,000 courts across the continent over the next decade. \u00a0Collectively, the courts are expected to reach thousands of youth and community members annually.<\/p>\nThe first two courts were unveiled Sept. 30 in Saint-Louis, Senegal, in collaboration with Senegalese national oil and gas company Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 des P\u00e9troles du S\u00e9n\u00e9gal (PETROSEN), and Oct. 3 in Abidjan, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, in collaboration with Wave C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire. \u00a0Additional courts will be unveiled through December in Dakar, Senegal, in collaboration with Ville de Dakar; in Joal, Senegal in collaboration with Woodside Energy; and in Gu\u00e9diawaye, Senegal, and Owerri, Nigeria, in collaboration with Qatar Foundation.\u00a0 Each court features upgraded playing surfaces, spectator seating and new basketball stanchions, with select sites also featuring modernized changing rooms, sanitation facilities, and lighting. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThese newly refurbished courts reflect our commitment to investing in communities and making the game more accessible to young people across Africa,\u201d said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. \u00a0\u201cTogether with our partners, we are creating spaces where the next generation of African basketball players, fans, and changemakers can grow, connect and thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Overview of Refurbished Courts:<\/strong><\/p>\nSaint-Louis, Senegal (PETROSEN) \u2013 Sept. 30:<\/strong> The indoor court in Saint-Louis, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was unveiled at Universit\u00e9 Gaston Berger (UGB), one of Senegal\u2019s leading academic institutions, and will provide UGB students and the broader Saint-Louis community with a modern space for basketball and community programming.<\/p>\nAbidjan, C\u00f4te d’Ivoire (Wave C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire) \u2013 Oct. 3:<\/strong> At Groupe Scolaire Lac in Koumassi, the renovated court is expected to serve nearly 3,000 players every week, including 2,500 students, and host a basketball development program for 300 girls ages 18 and under from eight schools across the community. \u00a0Every Saturday, the site will host the Ligue Jeune<\/em>, a youth basketball competition for aspiring players ages 18 and under. \u00a0The refurbishment also includes the addition of upgraded lighting and new spectator benches made from recycled materials.\u00a0 This marks the second BAL court unveiled in Abidjan through the league\u2019s collaboration with Wave C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire following the launch of the first court in November 2025.<\/p>\nJoal, Senegal (Woodside Energy) \u2013 Oct. 7:<\/strong> The newly renovated court in Joal, a coastal fishing community on Senegal\u2019s Petite C\u00f4te, will serve as a central gathering space in a community where access to organized sports infrastructure has historically been limited. \u00a0The refurbished court will include secure fencing and refurbished sanitation facilities.\u00a0 The launch event will feature a basketball clinic for 100 boys and girls ages 16 and under.<\/p>\nDakar, Senegal (Ville de Dakar) \u2013 Oct. 9:<\/strong> Positioned along Dakar\u2019s Atlantic coastline and at the heart of one of Dakar\u2019s most dynamic recreational hubs, the outdoor court will offer a unique landscape and will serve as a year-round destination for players, families and visitors.\u00a0 It will also serve as a vibrant social anchor, bringing together Dakar\u2019s passionate basketball community, youth, and visitors in an inspiring seaside landmark.\u00a0 The upgrades include an integrated scoreboard installation, new storage facility, and perimeter fencing to enhance the player and fan experience while helping protect and preserve the court. \u00a0The inauguration will be followed by the finals of the BAL City Run, a neighborhood basketball tournament featuring 12 local teams.<\/p>\nGu\u00e9diawaye, Senegal (Qatar Foundation) \u2013 Oct. 30:<\/strong> Marking the first-ever BAL4HER court in Africa, the newly renovated indoor facility is part of the BAL\u2019s platform dedicated to advancing women and girls in basketball and beyond, and will serve as a multi-sport hub supporting basketball, volleyball and handball, equipped with upgraded lighting, changing rooms, bathrooms, and meeting rooms. \u00a0The venue, designed to promote gender equality, will also function as a hub for learning and holistic growth featuring dedicated rooms for leadership workshops, life-skills training, educational sessions, and health and nutrition programs.<\/p>\nOwerri, Nigeria (Qatar Foundation) \u2013 December:<\/strong> Marking the second BAL4HER court in Africa<\/strong>, the court unveiling will be supported by two-time WNBA All-Star and BAL Ambassador Chiney Ogwumike <\/strong>and her nonprofit organization, Queens of the Continent<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>The court currently serves more than 300 participants across Imo State<\/strong>. \u00a0The upgrades, including renovated changing rooms and bathrooms, improved lighting and enhanced drainage, will transform a gathering space into a dedicated venue for organized sport, youth development and community engagement.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSource link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"DAKAR, Senegal, October 7, 2026\/APO Group\/ — PETROSEN, Qatar Foundation, Ville de Dakar, Wave C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire and Woodside Energy Support Refurbishments, Including First BAL4HER Courts on the Continent\u00a0 Refurbishments Support NBA Africa\u2019s Commitment to Build or Renovate 1,000 Courts on the Continent Over the Next Decade\u00a0 The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) today announced that 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