The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and Wave Côte d’Ivoire, Africa’s fastest-growing mobile money platform, have unveiled a newly renovated basketball court at 4 Paniers in Yopougon, Abidjan. The project forms part of their joint effort to bring communities in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal closer to the game and supports NBA Africa’s goal to build or renovate 1,000 courts across the continent over the next decade.
The court was unveiled by Wave Côte d’Ivoire General Manager Katier Bamba and BAL Head of League Operations Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, followed by a clinic for 50 young players and a U-23 3-on-3 tournament.
Boumtje-Boumtje said the renovation highlights BAL and Wave’s shared commitment to empowering African youth through safe spaces to play and learn. Bamba emphasized Wave’s dedication to investing in its communities and creating accessible spaces that inspire the next generation.
Since forming their partnership in March 2025, BAL and Wave have hosted “Tournoi des Quartiers” tournaments in Abidjan and Dakar with 1,000,000 CFA prizes and sponsored an all-expenses-paid trip for U-18 national team player Reine Esther Yao to attend the 2025 BAL Finals in Pretoria.