Wave and BAL announce the return of the Neighborhood Tournament: four stages across Senegal this summer

Wave, the fintech that democratizes financial services in Africa, and the Basketball Africa League (BAL) confirm the dates for the new edition of their street basketball tournament, which will travel through four regions of Senegal from July 4 to 26, 2026.

Following the success of its first edition, the BAL x Wave Neighborhood Tournament returns to celebrate local talent and bring basketball closer to the communities. Supported by the renewed pan-African partnership between Wave and BAL for seasons 6 through 8, this event reaffirms the shared ambition of both partners: to empower Senegalese youth to unleash their talent, wherever they may be.

In each of the four cities, young players will have the opportunity to represent their neighborhood on a stage that, until now, often seemed inaccessible to them. This is the whole point of this tournament: to prove that sporting ambition knows no geographical boundaries, and that every local pitch can be the starting point of a great journey.

Local authorities, elected officials and institutional actors will be invited at each stage, alongside the general public, to take part in this joint celebration of youth and sport.

Confirmed dates:

1. Ziguinchor : Saturday, July 4, Aline Sitoe Diatta Stadium
2. Saint-Louis : Saturday, July 11, Gaston Berger University
3. Thiès : Saturday, July 18, Lat Dior Stadium
4. Dakar : Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July, Marius Ndiaye Stadium (group stage and grand final)

Each regional stage will bring together men's and women's teams who will compete to represent their city at the grand final in Dakar. Through this tour, Wave and BAL reaffirm their commitment to showcasing local talent and supporting the ambition of young people determined to excel. It also sends a strong message to the authorities and sports stakeholders present at each stage: Senegal's potential is being built far from major urban centers and deserves support wherever it may be found.

The Neighbourhood Tournament is part of a busy summer season for the Wave x BAL partnership, which will continue with other highlights in Dakar in the following weeks.

“This tournament is our way of seeking out talent where it is, without waiting for it to come to us. With the BAL, we want to offer Senegalese youth a stage that matches their ambition. This is exactly what we want to embody: to be a brand that celebrates communities and highlights their talents,” says Diariatou Sarr, Brand Director of Wave.

About Wave Digital Finance

Wave Digital Finance is an entity of the Wave Mobile Money Group, holding an Electronic Money Institution license issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). Its mission is to issue electronic money from Senegal and to develop strategic partnerships in the WAEMU zone, with a view to expanding access to digital financial services.

www.wave.com