Women’s basketball across Africa is expected to enter a new phase of development following the unveiling of an ambitious Action Plan that will guide the sport’s growth from 2024 to 2027.
The roadmap was presented by Madame Gina Adekambi, Vice President of FIBA Africa Zone Three and Chairperson of the Zone’s Women’s Development Council. The initiative is aimed at expanding opportunities for women in basketball while strengthening every aspect of the game across the continent.
According to Adekambi, the strategy is built around grassroots development, stronger competitions, leadership development, improved funding, wider media visibility and greater involvement of former players in the administration and growth of the sport.
A key part of the plan focuses on nurturing young talents. Basketball clubs will be encouraged to establish Under 16 and Under 18 teams, while member federations are expected to organise youth tournaments and mini basketball programmes. The council also intends to dedicate every March to Women’s Basketball Month through educational campaigns and activities that promote the sport.
Efforts are also being directed at raising the standard of senior women’s basketball. The Action Plan proposes the organisation of an African Women’s Club Championship every season, alongside long term plans to establish a professional women’s basketball league in collaboration with FIBA Africa.
Adekambi stressed the importance of developing more women in technical and leadership positions. Training programmes, leadership workshops, mentoring initiatives and online learning opportunities will be introduced for female coaches, referees, administrators and medical personnel. The programme will also include awareness campaigns on reproductive health as part of its broader development agenda.
The strategy further outlines measures to secure sponsorships, strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders and create scholarship opportunities for promising young players. It also encourages closer collaboration between schools and basketball clubs to build a stronger pathway for future talents.
Former female basketball players are expected to play an important role in bringing the plan to life. A census of retired players will be conducted, alumni associations will be encouraged and more women will be supported to take up positions on the executive boards of basketball federations.
Additional recommendations from the recent CBF Meeting 25 have further reinforced the development agenda. Among the proposals are calls for women’s national and club teams to be led by female coaches, increased inclusion of former players in federation leadership and motivational sessions featuring retired stars and notable personalities.
The meeting also recommended organising regional Under 16 competitions, providing travel and accommodation support for women attending coaching courses and encouraging national federations to recruit and train more young female coaches. Regional bodies were urged to organise online training sessions, while FIBA was encouraged to provide additional mini basketballs to support grassroots programmes.
Members of the Basketball for Women Commission were equally tasked with identifying associations of former players and female coaches within their respective federations to strengthen collaboration and create more opportunities for networking and development.
Adekambi also highlighted plans to improve media coverage of women’s basketball through stronger digital communication platforms. She added that online channels for reporting harassment and abuse would be introduced to help create a safer environment for female athletes and officials.
She expressed confidence that the Action Plan, together with the recommendations from stakeholders, would lay a solid foundation for the continued growth of women’s basketball in Africa while creating more opportunities for women and girls to succeed both on and off the court.
Zoyols News reports that the initiative represents one of the most comprehensive efforts in recent years to accelerate the development of women’s basketball across the African continent.
