The town of Joal-Fadiouth in Senegal has been enriched with a new basketball infrastructure, courtesy of a partnership between Woodside Energy and the Basketball Africa League (BAL). The new court was officially inaugurated on October 7, 2026, at Stade François Bob. This development is a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two organizations, which share the conviction that sports can greatly contribute to the education and development of young people.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by various stakeholders, including basketball players, municipal authorities, and local youth. Former Senegalese international basketball players, such as Boniface Ndong and Anne Marie Dioh, were also in attendance. The new court is the third of its kind, following similar installations at the Université Gaston Berger in Saint-Louis and the Université d'Abidjan. This project aims to make sports a tool for education, inclusion, and social cohesion.
According to Amadou Gallo Fall, President of BAL, the region of Thiès, where Joal-Fadiouth is located, has a rich pool of basketball talents. The new court is one of six planned for West Africa and is designed to provide a suitable environment for young people to practice basketball and develop their skills. Gallo Fall also emphasized the importance of taking care of the facility and encouraged the youth to draw inspiration from renowned athletes from Joal.
Nancy Diakhaté, General Director of Woodside Energy, praised the collaboration with BAL and the commitment of the Joal-Fadiouth community. She described the new court as more than just a basketball facility, but a place for socialization, community building, and personal growth. Diakhaté emphasized that the project is built on a shared ambition to provide young people in Joal with a conducive environment for self-fulfillment and development.
The representative of the municipality of Joal-Fadiouth, Omar Bâ, expressed gratitude to Woodside Energy and BAL for the new facility. He stressed the importance of maintaining and preserving the court, assuring that the municipality would support the beneficiaries in this endeavor. Bâ also noted that Woodside had previously provided toilets to the Nangane community, demonstrating the company's commitment to the local population.
The BAL President, Amadou Gallo Fall, reiterated that the new infrastructure belongs to the youth, urging them to take care of it and treat it as their own. He also encouraged the 50 coaches who participated in a clinic organized during the inauguration to continue their engagement with the youth. The goal is to make the court not only a sports facility but also a place for learning values, discipline, and citizenship.
The partnership between Woodside Energy and BAL aims to replicate similar initiatives in other parts of Senegal. The new basketball court in Joal-Fadiouth represents an investment in sports and, more importantly, in the future of the youth. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the local community, promoting social cohesion, education, and personal development through sports.
Key points
- The new basketball court in Joal-Fadiouth is part of a larger initiative to develop sports infrastructure in West Africa.
- The partnership between Woodside Energy and BAL aims to promote education and development through sports.
- The project is expected to have a positive impact on the local community, promoting social cohesion, education, and personal development through sports.
