The Afro Playbook Daily
Oghenekaro Obibi 6 episodes Nov 2, 2026
The Afro Playbook Daily is a weekday podcast dedicated to African basketball, covering the players, leagues, and stories shaping the sport across the continent and its diaspora. It is hosted by Oghenekaro Obibi, who goes by "OG." New episodes are released Monday through Friday, offering short daily takes and updates rather than long-form interviews. The show serves fans who want a regular, focused briefing on African hoops.
Episodes
3 Things to Know | 2 November 2026
From dramatic finishes in Egyptian women's basketball to new champions in Côte d'Ivoire and a remarkable scoreline in Angola, the weekend delivered plenty to talk about. Catch up on 3 stories from African basketball you might have missed.
The Wrap Up | 30 October 2026
From questions about the NBA's influence in Africa to the race for continental qualification, there's plenty happening on and off the court. Catch up on the stories shaping African basketball this week.
The Cost of a Contract | Basketball Economics
What goes into negotiating a professional women's basketball contract in Africa? Step inside Kalunga Basketball Club as 3 competing offers put a player's future on the negotiating table.
Why Do Basketball Players Lick Their Fingers?
Some basketball players spend hundreds on trainers, then lick their fingers and wipe the soles. What's going on down there?
Congo Basketball: The $800,000 Comeback
After 9 years away from international basketball, the Republic of Congo is back. From financial disputes to a return to FIBA competitions, what did it take to get Congo-Brazzaville back on the court?
3 Things to Know | 26 October 2026
From Ghana's Spintex Knights to Equatorial Guinea's basketball federation and Rwanda's REG, three very different stories made headlines this weekend. But what's happening beyond the court?
The Wrap Up | 23 October 2026
Places in Cairo are on the line, and the Road to BAL is heating up. I round up the week in African basketball, including developments off the court and African involvement in the WNBA Finals.
Basketball Economics | Who Pays the Referee?
Who pays basketball referees, and what happens when the money runs out? I follow the money behind the whistle.
Road to BAL: Where It All Began
The Road to BAL is back! But did you know its history stretches back more than 50 years? I uncover where it all began and what its future might hold.
Egyptian Basketball: What's Their Secret?
Egyptian clubs keep winning across Africa and the Arab world. What's their secret? I explore the money, history and structures behind their success, and what the rest of Africa can learn.
3 Things to Know | 19 October 2026
A dramatic comeback in Tanzania, an international trophy heading to Libya, and a fresh start for women's basketball in Morocco. I'm covering three stories from across African basketball that you need to know this Monday.
The Wrap Up | 16 October 2026
A change in leadership could mark a new chapter for Nigerian basketball, while unexpected disruptions create challenges elsewhere on the continent. I look at the week's biggest developments, from decisions off the court to achievements on it.
Should Your Basketball Club Buy a Private Jet?
Your basketball players are fed up with how they travel, and the board has a rather expensive decision to make. Could improving life on the road end up costing the club more than it bargained for?
How Can You Win and Still Go Home?
Imagine winning your final group game, celebrating the victory, and then being told you're eliminated. I'm breaking down basketball's tiebreaker rules and how winning on the court doesn't always mean advancing in the tournament.
Urunani's Never-Ending Story
How many times can a team come agonisingly close to its dream before the story finally changes? Discover the perseverance of Burundi's Urunani Basketball Club ahead of their next attempt to reach the Basketball Africa League.
3 Things to Know | 12 October 2026
A crucial weekend for Central African basketball, a South Sudanese prospect making waves in the NBA preseason, and a fierce battle unfolding in North Africa.Here are your three things to know this Monday.
Weekly Wrap-Up | 9 October 2026
Good news for Senegal's Aminata Seck, big performances from African players in Europe, and an unbeaten run in Ghana.I cover these stories and more in this week's Wrap-Up.
The $70 Jersey
A Cameroonian basketball club signs a superstar, but can it make money selling his $70 jersey? I investigate African manufacturing, player royalties and the real cost of turning fans into customers.
Continuity Is King
What turns a basketball team into an institution? I look at US Monastir, Al Ahly and Rivers Hoopers to explore tickets, merchandise, membership and the one thing fan culture can’t exist without: continuity.Can African basketball build clubs that fans organise their lives around?
What Is a Basketball Academy Actually For?
What does the word academy actually mean in African basketball?I look at basketball academies across the continent, from weekend programmes and private training academies to SEED Academy and the former NBA Academy Africa, to understand what players are actually getting, who gets access and where these so-called pathways are supposed to lead.Because calling something an academy is easy. Building a
3 Things to Know | 5 October 2026
A major legal development for Senegal’s Aminata Seck, KPA Dockers strengthen ahead of the WBLA qualifiers, and NBA Africa expands its youth basketball programme in Morocco.Here are your three things to know this Monday.Show NotesWomen’s basketball player from Senegal has deportation order rescinded after arrest by ICE — APKPA Dockers announce Tonie Morgan — KPA DockersKPA Dockers announce Victoria
Weekly Wrap-Up | 2 October 2026
The NBA closes its only elite academy in Africa, a player eligibility dispute shakes Rwanda’s women’s game, and Cameroon’s champions discover that winning the league and affording the Road to BAL are two very different things.Here are three African basketball stories you need to know before the weekend.Sources:NBA closes sole training academy in Africa in blow to young players — Reutershttps://www
Build a Basketball Federation in 8 Minutes
For this week’s Basketball Economics, I’m building a fictional African basketball federation from scratch. Staff, national teams, grassroots, TV rights and more. How much is this actually going to cost us?Femi from Finance is already concerned.
The Great South African Basketball Bake Off
South Africa can do sport. So why hasn’t that success translated to basketball?I look at decades without an AfroBasket medal, the NBA and BAL’s investment in South Africa, the problems facing the domestic game, and the governance failures that have left the country rebuilding its basketball system.South Africans, I know you’ve got something to say about this one, so join the conversation.
Is Africa Missing the Women’s Basketball Boom?
Women’s basketball is booming globally, but how much of that growth is reaching Africa?I look at the money, visibility and investment flowing into the women’s game, what professional basketball actually looks like for women across different African countries, and whether the WBLA can grow alongside the global boom.What do you think: is African women’s basketball keeping pace, or are we being left
3 Things to Know | 28 September 2026
Nairobi City Thunder give us another reason to keep an eye on Kenya, I check in on some of the standout performances from African internationals playing abroad, and RSSB Tigers wrap up their Intercontinental Cup campaign in Beijing.
Weekly Wrap-Up | 26 September 2026
This week on the Afro Playbook Daily:RSSB Tigers: A 19-point comeback sends the BAL champions into the Intercontinental Cup semi-finals.Rivers Hoopers: Nigerian champions again and heading back to the BAL.Kenya x NBA: President William Ruto meets NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum as basketball development and BAL franchises enter the conversation.This is Basket: European basketball is now streami
The Real Cost of Road to BAL
What does it actually cost to chase a place in the BAL?I created a completely fictional Madagascan champion, the Island Boys, and sent them through the Road to BAL to find out just how expensive that journey could become.
Can RSSB Tigers Bounce Back?
Africa's BAL champions have started their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a 107–89 loss to Rytas Vilnius, but the final score doesn't tell the whole story.I break down where the game changed, what impressed me about RSSB Tigers and what needs to improve before they face the Shanghai Sharks today.Can the Tigers respond?
The Future of Road to BAL
The BAL says Road to BAL will survive the move towards permanent franchises. But what will qualification actually look like when some teams are guaranteed a place every year?OG looks at what we know, what we don’t, and why the answer could reshape African club basketball.
Mali Will Win Women’s AfroBasket 2027
You heard it here first...Mali will win Women’s AfroBasket 2027, and here is why.
Welcome to The Afro Playbook Daily
I’m OG, and welcome to The Afro Playbook Daily. If you love African basketball or want to discover it, this is your new weekday home. Five minutes of African basketball, five days a week.
