Africell Sierra Leone and NBA Africa have announced a landmark partnership that will introduce NBA-backed youth basketball development programmes across Sierra Leone, marking the first time the global basketball body extends its grassroots initiatives to the country.
The agreement, signed at the NBA’s global headquarters in New York on 23 September 2025, is an expansion of the Africell Group’s wider collaboration with the National Basketball Association.
Africell CEO, president and founder Ziad Dalloul and NBA’s deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum described the partnership as a strategic investment in youth empowerment, community engagement and long-term social impact.
The initiative builds on the success of Africell and NBA Africa’s joint programme launched in Angola in 2022, which has already delivered world-class coaching, modernised courts and competitive platforms for thousands of young athletes. With Sierra Leone added to the list—alongside Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and The Gambia—the programme now spans four African countries.
NBA Africa’s entry into Sierra Leone will bring major opportunities for aspiring basketball players nationwide. The programme includes nationwide training clinics led by certified coaches and player exposure through Africell-supported competitions, including a 3-on-3 tournament in early 2026, with highlights shared with NBA Africa scouting teams. It also includes new training academies designed to nurture emerging talent; court refurbishment projects to improve access to quality infrastructure; and support for existing basketball structures to boost visibility and participation.
These efforts are expected to accelerate Sierra Leone’s presence in Africa’s growing basketball ecosystem while offering young people new pathways in sport, education and personal development.
The partnership also aligns with the social mission of the Africell Impact Foundation, which prioritises health, youth development and community transformation.
“It is difficult to overstate the magnetic pull that the NBA brand enjoys in Africa,” said Africell CEO Ziad Dalloul. “The NBA stands for excellence, aspiration and opportunity, values that resonate with young people. We are excited to extend this collaboration to Sierra Leone and look forward to its impact on our youth and communities.”
NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi praised the expansion, saying: “Our collaboration with Africell in Angola has shown how basketball can inspire, empower and transform lives. Extending our programmes to Sierra Leone—where passion for sport is strong and Africell has deep community roots—will enable us to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to youth development.”
The programme is set to roll out nationwide, positioning Sierra Leone as an emerging hub for basketball talent in West Africa.
