We’ve always had the ambition to be more than a newsletter. We are building #AfricaScores to be the growth engine of Africa’s sports industry. We will soon be rolling out our events calendar and our job board. Want to learn more ? Email us: [email protected]

THE 3-POINTER

Nigeria's Unrivaled Rise as Africa’s Women’s Sports Hub

• A multi-sports dominance movement: Nigeria’s women’s teams continue to set the standard across multiple sports in Africa. The Super Falcons secured their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title with a thrilling 3-2 comeback over Morocco, underscoring their continental supremacy in football. In basketball, D’Tigress demonstrated their strength with by qualifying for the Afrobasket semi-finals against Cameroon to a 83-47 blow out . Nigerian women are also pioneering in other sports, becoming the first African nation to qualify for the 2025 Women’s Rugby League World Series and claiming the Africa Flag Football Championship earlier this year. This multi-sport dominance highlights a resilient sporting culture that thrives despite ongoing funding and administrative challenges.

• A talent pipeline brought to you by NCAA D1 and international leagues: Nigeria’s success is fueled by a talent pipeline bridging local development with international experience, especially through the NCAA Division I system. Key players like Super Falcons’ Jennifer Echegini and Courtney Dike sharpened their skills at top U.S. colleges before advancing professionally and internationally. Similarly, basketball stars such as Ezinne Kalu, a Savannah State alumna, have become essential assets for D’Tigress and Nigeria’s Olympic efforts. Beyond football and basketball, Nigerian athletes in the diaspora are expanding into volleyball, track, and other disciplines. This blend of homegrown talent and global exposure keeps Nigeria’s women’s teams at the forefront of African sports and on the global stage.

• For brands, the time to hop on the bandwagon is now:

  We should command federations and governments for their support and the increase in prize money: CAF doubled this year’s WAFCON prize money and the Super Falcons were awarded $100k in cash prize and a 3-bedroom apartment each by the government. However, there remains one big missing link to fuel Nigerian women’s sports: sizeable commitment from commercial partners. The global marketing spend surge in women’s sports has been significant: between 2022 and 2024 brands increased their investment in women’s sports by 80%. It is time for this wave to catch in Nigeria. For local brands - Nigerian women’s teams present a tremendous opportunity to bring new eyeballs to homegrown products and services. For international brands, these women are an obvious gateway to one of Africa’s most coveted markets.

Sindiswa’s Corner Kick

FROM A VENUE TO AN ECOSYSTEM: ZARIA COURT

Hi, I'm Sindiswa! I'm excited to carve out this little corner of the newsletter to share what I've been learning, who I've been speaking to, and everything happening in the vibrant world of African sports.

Situated between BK Arena and the revamped Amahoro Stadium, the $26 million mixed-use development is the first of its kind from Zaria Group, co-founded by NBA champion Masai Ujiri and Helios Sports and Entertainment Group. The flagship site features an 80-room boutique hotel, a 2,000-person event space, a public basketball court, football pitches, a podcast studio, co-working space, gym, restaurants, a sports bar, and curated retail. It’s not just a venue; it’s a community hub designed for Africa’s growing middle class, creatives, and entrepreneurs.

“This is our proof of concept of how that infrastructure can inspire similar developments across the continent,” said Andrew Feinstein, Managing Partner at Zaria Group. (Read full article here)

A Final Note

SCORE WITH US

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Until Friday after next,