Clare Akamanzi has revealed plans to transition the Basketball Africa League into a franchise-based competition as part of its long-term growth strategy. Speaking during a press conference to officially open the 2026 BAL season in Pretoria on Friday, March 27, Akamanzi said the league is exploring a semi-permanent structure aimed at attracting sustained investment and strengthening local ownership. “We are currently exploring a franchise model where we have a semi-permanent league. In that exploration, we see that the league’s future and its potential will continue to support long-term investment and local ownership in different cities across the African continent,” she said. Akamanzi emphasized that the ultimate goal is to position BAL as a leading sports and entertainment property in Africa. “Our goal is to build BAL into a leading sport and entertainment property on the African continent. BAL is proving that basketball is a good business in Africa,” she added. She noted that NBA Africa views the league as a key pillar in developing the continent’s basketball ecosystem, while also providing access to a young and rapidly growing fan base. Beyond the league itself, Akamanzi highlighted ongoing grassroots development efforts, including a plan to construct 1,000 basketball courts across Africa over the next decade. She confirmed that a fifth court is set to be built in Kenya, bringing the total number of courts completed so far to 60 across the continent. The proposed franchise model marks a significant step in BAL’s evolution, signaling a shift toward greater commercial stability and long-term growth for professional basketball in Africa.
