When the Basketball Africa League (BAL) was launched in 2021, few imagined that it would become, in four years, the symbol of a new age of African sport. In 2025, the league enters its fifth season, with a clear objective: to move to 12 permanent franchises by 2027, on a model directly inspired by the NBA.
But unlike traditional leagues dependent on public subsidies, the BAL is based on a franchise system: each team becomes a private asset, generating its own income through ticketing, sponsorship, broadcasting rights or the sale of derivative products. This model attracts new investors, African and international, and contributes to structuring a hitherto informal economic ecosystem.
Visibility and income
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC, World Bank Group) in a blog published in July 2025 entitled « Boosting Job Creation in Africa’s Sports Sector »sports franchising could generate 20 billion USD by 2035 and create hundreds of thousands of jobs, by linking sport, media, technology and tourism.
Clare Akamanzi confirms this dynamic: “ Basketball generates jobs, attracts capital and inspires African youth “. Since 2021, the BAL has already contributed USD 250 million to African GDP and supported nearly 40,000 jobs, from arena construction to audiovisual production.
The rise of teams like Al Ahly Tripoli (Libya) or Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya), which has just renewed its partnership with M-Kopa for the qualifiers of theElite 16 of November 2025, illustrates how local franchises are becoming economic players in their own right. Regional sponsors now replace one-off patrons, transforming sporting practice into a value chain.
Beyond basketball, the model already inspires cricket (South African T20 League) and rugby (United Rugby Championship). Ibrahim Sagna, Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, sums up: “ Franchising provides clear visibility into future revenues; it transforms sports into an asset class. »
Perceptible successes, but a fragile balance
The economic impact is measurable: the BAL attracts more than 140,000 cumulative spectators in 2025, which stimulates tourism and local consumption. Structuring partnerships, such as the one signed with Afreximbank, support training and entrepreneurship. THE Triple-Double Accelerator of NBA Africa, launched to finance ten sports and culture startups, illustrates this hybridization between sport and technological innovation.
The emergence of talents like Khaman Maluach, drafted in 10th position by the Los Angeles Clippers, symbolizes the success of the model: Africa is no longer content with exporting its athletes; it capitalizes on their training and their image. As former All-Star turned investor Luol Deng says: “ Investing in African sport means maintaining value on the continent. »
But optimism must remain measured. The infrastructure deficit remains the main obstacle: only a few countries — Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa — have arenas meeting international standards. The profitability of the leagues remains fragile; the BAL still depends on financial support from the NBA.
Regional inequalities persist, and the risks of dependence on foreign capital raise the question of the economic sovereignty of African sport. The lack of effective regulation of sports betting or audiovisual piracy, which costs up to a billion dollars per year, could also slow down the consolidation of the model.
For Clare Akamanzi, the key lies in an integrated approach: “ If we want sustainable development, we must invest in the entire ecosystem, not just on the ground. » Initiatives, such as the partnership between BAL and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco, in favor of youth, illustrate this long-term desire.
Towards a lasting revolution?
The horizon looks promising. In 2027, BAL hopes to achieve profitability through franchise sales and regional market growth. Similar plans are emerging in football and Formula 1, with a Grand Prix in South Africa being considered. Forums like Africa SportsBiz 2025 in Kigali now bring together investors, institutions and startups, strengthening continental dynamics.
Sports franchising is therefore no longer limited to an imported idea: it is taking root in an Africa which wants to create its own economic model of sport. An Africa where the field becomes a market, where each basket scored can now weigh in on GDP.
