African Basketball League

The African Basketball League (ABL) was a men's private professional basketball league in Africa established with the vision of creating opportunities in the sports industry by capturing the rich entertainment culture of Africans to promote sports tourism.[1][2]

African Basketball League (ABL)
SportBasketball
Inaugural season16 December 2015 (2015-12-16)
Ceased2017 (2017) (re-branded as CBL Africa)
CEOUgo Udezue
No. of teams6
ContinentFIBA Africa (not recognized)
Last
champion(s)		Abidjan Ramblers (2016)
Most titlesAbidjan Ramblers (1 title)
Official websiteablafrica.com

The objectives of the league are to create wealth and employment; develop intra-Africa tourism and integration; and foster internal growth and development. This will be achieved through the development of an ecosystem that will support the creation of viable and valuable basketball franchises.[3]

In May 2016, Abidjan Ramblers defeated Lagos Warriors to become the inaugural winners of the league.[4]

The league was intended to run simultaneously with other national leagues in Africa, with the CEO, Ugo Udeze stating that approval was gotten from FIBA Africa before commencement of the league. In March 2016, Nigeria Basketball Federation declared it illegal and expelled two Lagos teams, who previously played in the Nigerian Premier League (basketball) from returning to the legitimate Nigerian basketball league.[5] FIBA Africa also corroborated the stance by the Nigerian body, explaining that it never gave such approval for the league.[6]

History

The ABL was launched on Wednesday December 16, 2015 at the Lagos Boat Club, Ikoyi Lagos. The official presentation of the league was made at the launch including the unveiling of the participating clubs, the introduction of the Management Board and the announcement of the league partners. The inaugural season began on Friday March 4, 2016.[7][8][9]

Teams

Lagos Islanders

Lagos Islanders Basketball Club is a Lagos-based basketball club founded in 1984. The team plays professional basketball in Lagos Nigeria. The franchise is co-owned by Sound Sultan since 2014.[10]

Stallions

Stallions are owned by Union Bank Plc, Nigeria. They are based in Lagos and they play in the premier basketball league.

Dakar Rapids

Dakar Rapids is a Senegalese basketball team based in country capital Dakar, Senegal.

Lagos Warriors

Lagos Warriors is the professional basketball team of the Dodan Warriors Basketball Programme. The team plays professional basketball in Lagos, Nigeria.

Libreville Izobe

Izobe Basketball Club is an elite basketball club based in Libreville, the capital and largest city of the West-Central African country – Gabon.

Abidjan Ramblers

The Generation Basketball Club also known as Abidjan Ramblers is a professional basketball team based in capital city, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.[11] The Ramblers current coach is Nikolic Milutin originally from Switzerland.

Crash


References
  1. "So much to gain from African Basketball League, says Udezue » The Guardian Nigeria". Guardian.ng. 2016-04-30. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  2. "NBBF declares African Basketball League illegal - Vanguard News". Vanguardngr.com. 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  3. "FIBA Africa opposes launch of African Basketball League". FIBA.com. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  4. Monye, Alex (May 30, 2016). "Abidjan Ramblers make history, beat Lagos Warriors to win first African Basketball League". Guardian.ng. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  5. "NBBF declares African Basketball League illegal". Vanguard. March 8, 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  6. Ngobua, David (March 19, 2016). "How African Basketball League crashed". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  7. "African Basketball League -Official Homepage". Ablafrica.com. 2016-07-08. Archived from the original on 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  8. Tunde Eludini (2015-12-19). "African Basketball League debuts with seven clubs - Premium Times Nigeria". Premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  9. "How African Basketball League crashed". Dailytrust.com.ng. 2016-03-19. Archived from the original on 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  10. "Lagos Islanders' owner, Sound Sultan proud of packed arena". pulse.ng. April 13, 2016. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
  11. "Abidjan Ramblers win inaugural African Basketball League". Thenewsnigeria.com.ng. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
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