a new entrepreneurship initiative designed to equip African athletes with the skills, network, and mindset to build impactful ventures beyond basketball.
BAL Advance: Next Play marks a significant milestone in BAL’s mission to empower players both on and off the court.

More than 150 BAL players from season 1 to 5 as well as current and former African female players with skills to drive impact beyond the game in a growing sports economy applied within the first week of launch, reflecting strong demand for professional development opportunities across Africa’s sports ecosystem.
The six-week program, developed with Athletepreneur, brings together 26 participants (10 women and 16 men) from over 13 countries, including Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Egypt, Kenya, and the USA.
The curriculum focuses on business design, innovation, financial literacy, storytelling, and sustainable impact — helping athletes transition from sport into entrepreneurship and leadership roles within Africa’s $5.4 billion sports economy.

Of the 26 participants, three standout athletes have been selected to travel to NBA Headquarters in New York City (October 29–31) for an exclusive in-person immersion session: Joel Almeida (Cabo Verde; Kriol stars owner and captain), Grace Wang’Ondu (Kenya; Former Basketball National player), Omar Hussein (Egypt, Zamalek Captain and Engineer).
This unique experience will offer them hands-on exposure to global business operations, innovation practices, and leadership insights.

As Africa’s sports and creative industries continue to expand, BAL Advance: Next Play reinforces BAL and Afreximbank’s shared commitment to using sport as a platform for economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth across the continent.