BAL Finals in Dakar: Amadou Gallo Fall sets his conditions



In an interview with the sports weekly Le Soleil des Sports, the president of the Basketball Africa League (BAL), Amadou Gallo Fall, discusses the league's ambitions and its desire to strengthen its presence in Dakar. He specifically mentions the "BAL in Dakar Festival," organized on August 22nd and 23rd at the African Renaissance Monument, a free event requiring registration, with a program combining basketball, music, culture, fashion, and entertainment.

For Amadou Gallo Fall, this new concept, which also hosts the finals of the Neighborhood Tournament organized in Ziguinchor, Saint-Louis, Thiès, and Dakar, aims to show that BAL extends beyond the realm of sports alone. "This festival provides an opportunity to demonstrate that, in fact, we are much more than a basketball league, that we go beyond the sport," he explains, while emphasizing that basketball remains "our core business."

The BAL president also highlighted Dakar's special place in the history and development of African basketball. He explained that the league's headquarters were established in the capital because of "Senegal's long history with the NBA" and the country's tradition in the sport. He emphasized that some twenty players of Senegalese origin have played in the NBA.

Amadou Gallo Fall also expressed his regret at the absence of the BAL in Senegal during the past season. "We really missed Dakar Arena," he stated, emphasizing that the venue is "the largest on the continent to accommodate so many spectators" and that "Senegalese people have always turned out in force for shows at Dakar Arena."

This desire to return to Senegal is also explained by the economic benefits of the BAL. While several African countries are now vying to host its events due to their "direct economic impact," Amadou Gallo Fall cites the results of a study covering the league's first four seasons. "Our contribution to GDP is $250 million, and we have contributed to nearly 40,000 direct and indirect jobs right here in Senegal," he states. This $250 million contribution represents approximately 141.25 billion CFA francs.

Senegal could once again host the BAL finals. Amadou Gallo Fall indicates that next year's finals will be held in a country other than Rwanda and that discussions with Senegal are "progressing well." However, he calls for accelerating the process: "We need to get down to brass tacks now."