At Avi-Cenna International School in Lagos, we hosted a coaching clinic dedicated to developing the next generation of women leaders in basketball.
GIANTS OF AFRICA MAKES INTERNATIONAL DEBUT AT ADIDAS X ALBA NEXT UP
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN BERLIN
September 4, 2026 (Berlin, DE) – Giants of Africa (GOA), the nonprofit organization founded by Masai Ujiri which uses basketball as a tool to empower youth and create opportunities across the continent, is making its first ever appearance in Europe at the adidas x ALBA Next Up Women’s Basketball Tournament in Berlin, Germany this this week. Read more about the tournament HERE.
Taking place September 3-6, the four-day tournament brings together eight teams from around the world, with Giants of Africa competing alongside teams from Australia, Hungary, Indonesia, Spain, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic. GOA will bring a delegation of women including eight young women from five African nations (Ethiopia, Gabon, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania), all alumni of the Giants of Africa Festival, uniting as one team to represent the organization on the international stage. The delegation also includes GOA Coach Melissa Diawakana (DRC) and Assistant Coach Adetokunbo Ijomah (Nigeria), with the support of GOA Coach Geraldine Robert (Gabon) and staff. All games can be streamed live HERE.
The trip marks a major milestone for Giants of Africa’s Women’s Empowerment Program, a core pillar of the organization’s long-standing commitment to gender equity. This program weaves empowerment and access for girls and young women into every layer of GOA’s work – and this international debut marks that mission reaching a new stage. For many of the participants, the experience will also mark their first time traveling outside of Africa, making the tournament an opportunity to expand their worlds both on and off the court.
For the first three days, the team will participate in the tournament’s Group Stage: three games split between two groups. Programming for the final day consists of multiple Cross Games, followed by an award ceremony and trophy presentation. Beyond competing, the group will attend games at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, also taking place in Berlin, giving the young athletes an opportunity to experience the highest level of women’s basketball firsthand and see what is possible for them within the sport.
Giants of Africa has demonstrated the life-changing power of investing in girls through inclusive sports programs and collaborations by ensuring at least 50% participation by girls in all of their camps, clinics and outreach events. This approach breaks gender barriers, promotes leadership, and aligns with broader goals of gender equity and sustainable development. Their commitment extends to coaches as well. Giants of Africa hosts coaching clinics for women across the continent, providing access to high-level mentorship, practical training and tools that can be immediately applied within their communities. At its core, the program addresses a persistent gap in access and resources faced women and girls, by building real pathways for them to learn, grow, and lead within the game, and in life.
The adidas x ALBA Next Up tournament represents the latest evolution of that work. What began with creating access to basketball courts, camps and mentorship across Africa is now creating opportunities for young women to compete and learn on an international stage.
ABOUT GIANTS OF AFRICA
Founded in 2003, Giants of Africa uses basketball as a tool to empower youth to reach their full potential. Through basketball court builds, camps, clinics, coaching programs and community outreach, GOA creates opportunities for young people across Africa to develop athletic skills, life skills and leadership capabilities. To date, Giants of Africa has visited 22 countries, impacted more than 180,000 youth and unveiled 50 basketball courts across 16 African nations.
ABOUT MASAI UJIRI
Masai Ujiri, an award-winning and barrier-breaking NBA executive, is the founder of Giants of Africa. Started in 2003, GOA draws upon Ujiri’s unique basketball journey to achieve its goal of uplifting African youth with programs focused on empowerment and leadership. As the first African general manager in North American professional sports who was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2013, Ujiri’s ascent to the top of the basketball world began in his native Nigeria and took him around the world as a player, scout and executive. In 2019 when he served as the architect of a Toronto Raptors team that became the first franchise outside the United States to be crowned NBA champions. Most recently, he was named Team President and Alternate Governor of the Dallas Mavericks. Ultimately though Masai believes his work with Giants of Africa will prove to be the most meaningful and rewarding of his life.
