Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in the region, the Basketball Africa League (BAL), which was meant to kick off on March 13th in Dakar, has been suspended. This initiative, created through a partnership between the NBA and the International Basketball Federation, aimed to feature 12 teams from various African nations. The tournament was planned to visit seven cities—Luanda, Lagos, Dakar, Monastir, Cairo, and Rabat—before concluding with the final rounds in Kigali, Rwanda.
President Amadou Gallo Fall announced that the league's schedule must be postponed following a request from the Senegalese government to ensure everyone's safety amid the pandemic. Gallo Fall admitted he was saddened that the games could not go ahead as originally intended.
The suspension came as a precaution after Senegal reported two positive Covid-19 cases at the FANN National University Hospital Centre on March 4th. This event was expected to be a major milestone for African sports and a career launchpad for the BAL athletes, but its future dates remain uncertain. To minimize risk, the NBA coordinated with disease control experts to implement new protocols, such as urging players to use fist-bumps instead of high-fives and avoiding the exchange of pens with spectators.
The global impact of the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has been devastating, with over 50,000 confirmed cases and a death toll exceeding 2,000 people worldwide. The timing is particularly difficult as it is an Olympic year; athletes in disciplines like wrestling, badminton, golf, and table tennis from across Europe and Asia are finding it nearly impossible to reach qualification centers due to travel bans. Beyond the Olympics, numerous international series and sporting events have been canceled across the globe.
Countries like Italy, South Korea, and China have been hit hardest, leading to a wave of cancellations. This includes the Formula 1 and Moto GP races in China, a complete overhaul of the Italian soccer calendar, and the withdrawal of field hockey matches between China, Australia, and Belgium. Even ISSF competitions have been rescheduled. There is now growing uncertainty surrounding the Olympic Games, scheduled for July 24th to August 9th, which may face changes if a solution to the pandemic isn't found.