Basketball Africa League Partners with Qatar Foundation for Social Impact
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Qatar Foundation, marking the latter as BAL’s inaugural official community partner. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to enhancing the accessibility of basketball throughout Africa.
Facilitated by Qatar Sports Investments, this alliance is set to bolster BAL’s social impact initiatives. The partnership includes extensive programs aimed at transforming the basketball landscape across the continent, with a strong focus on community engagement and development.
As part of this collaboration, significant renovations of basketball courts will take place, contributing to NBA Africa’s ambitious goal of constructing 1,000 courts in various locations across Africa. Additionally, the partnership will support the BAL4HER initiative, a platform dedicated to promoting gender equality within Africa’s sports realm.
In a landmark move, Qatar Foundation will also be the presenting partner for the esteemed BAL Ubuntu Trophy. This accolade is presented annually to BAL athletes who have demonstrated a significant positive influence in their local communities during the BAL season. The Qatar Foundation logo will feature prominently on the back of all BAL match uniforms.
Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-President of Qatar Foundation, emphasized the transformative power of sports. “We see sport as one of the most powerful tools to bring about positive change,” she explained, noting that their vision aligns with fostering an inclusive sports environment that addresses the needs of all individuals.
Al Thani highlighted Qatar Foundation’s dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for participants, driven by the core values of teamwork, discipline, and leadership. This commitment resonates deeply with the ethos of both organizations, according to BAL President Amadou Gallo-Faure.
Gallo-Faure stressed that this partnership significantly enhances the ongoing social impact programs that leverage basketball to improve lives across the continent. Qatar Foundation’s support will be evident this season through BAL4HER Power Hour events in host cities, which aim to connect young women aspiring to careers in the sports industry.
This partnership builds on Qatar Foundation’s lengthy tradition of utilizing sports for social development and solidifies a joint mission of using sport as a conduit for opportunity, inclusivity, and long-term community impact. The 2026 BAL season features 12 elite club teams from across Africa, with matches taking place at notable venues such as the Sunbet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, and the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco.
The playoffs and finals are scheduled from May 22 to May 31 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Eight qualifying teams, including Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly, will compete for the championship. Tickets for these highly anticipated playoffs and finals are available at BAL.NBA.com/Ticket, granting fans access to the BAL Fan Zone at the BK Arena.
