SportsBiz Africa looks to advance continent’s sports policy agenda

The SportsBiz Africa (SBA) Forum returns to Kigali for the third consecutive year this week, bringing together African policymakers, sports leaders, investors and industry stakeholders to build on recommendations that have already reached the continental policy-making level. The 2026 programme begins on Wednesday, September 9, with a policymakers and stakeholders’ roundtable at the Kigali Convention Centre. The high-level meeting will bring together African ministers and government representatives, private-sector executives, investors, multilateral institutions and development partners to discuss practical policies for unlocking the continent’s growing sports economy. The discussions will build on the outcomes of the 2025 roundtable, whose recommendations were later presented for consideration at the Fifth African Union Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport (STC-YCS-5) in Bujumbura, Burundi, in December 2025. ALSO READ: How can Rwanda leverage sports for economic growth? The recommendations called for stronger sports policies and governance, greater integration of sport into national development plans, increased use of public-private partnerships and investment in sustainable, multipurpose sports infrastructure. They also urged African countries to strengthen talent-identification systems, create career opportunities beyond competition and empower athletes to contribute to the continent’s wider sports and business ambitions. Rwandan Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire will serve as Guest of Honour, while the keynote address will be delivered by Ibrahim Al Bakri, Chief Executive Officer of the Sports Investment Forum (SIF), a Riyadh-based platform focused on strategic dialogue, innovation and investment in sport. Other prominent speakers expected at the forum include Sir Paul J. Foster, President and CEO of the Global Esports Federation, and Félicité Rwemarika, a member of the International Olympic Committee. Former Senegal international and national team coach Pape Thiaw will also feature in a session examining leadership and resilience in African sport. Thiaw led Senegal to an unbeaten qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. ALSO READ: How Rwandan venture aims to make sports pay for Africa’s development The 2026 edition will also feature a women’s roundtable focused on promoting more inclusive participation in the sports business sector, alongside professional development masterclasses and a career fair targeting young people from across Africa. Another key feature will be the Dealroom, a matchmaking platform designed to connect investors with selected sports-related ventures. Its second edition will feature ventures including ElevateHer, Mango Score™ and Silverback Sports, operating across areas such as women’s sports, athlete valuation, and sports and entertainment promotion. Esports will also take centre stage, with 40 gamers from across Africa set to compete in the SportsBiz Africa Esports Cup. The competition will feature continental championships in EA SPORTS FC 26 on PlayStation 5 and eFootball Mobile. Inaugurated in 2024, the SportsBiz Africa Forum is a joint initiative of the African Union Sports Council, Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports and SportsBiz Africa. It aims to strengthen the role of sport in Africa’s socio-economic development through better policy and governance, increased investment and stronger cross-sector collaboration, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The forum’s policy agenda has already gained continental recognition. Following the 2025 roundtable, the 48th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council urged member states to collaborate with the SportsBiz Africa platform to align sports development with Agenda 2063, maximise opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and mobilise domestic and international resources for sustainable sports development.