By Newz.Africa Sports Desk |Cairo, Egypt |Published: 18 January 2026
A milestone for African basketball
NBA Africa and Senyorita have announced the launch of the NBA’s first university basketball tournament on the continent. The NBA REC University Tournament will bring together men’s and women’s teams from 40 universities across Egypt. The teams will come from cities including Cairo, Alexandria, Assyiut, Giza, and Mansoura. The competition will run from April to May, with playoffs and finals set for Cairo (NBA Africa). In fact, the NBA Africa Egypt basketball tournament is considered a major milestone for the region.
Expanding youth basketball
Alongside the university league, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament is expanding to nearly 150 boys’ and girls’ teams from more than 50 schools in Cairo and Alexandria. This makes it the largest youth basketball event ever staged in Egypt. Operated by Events Plus, the tournament tipped off in December 2025 and will conclude with finals in April (APO Group). Significantly, the continued expansion is inspired by the NBA Africa Egypt basketball tournament model.
Voices from the launch
Senyorita COO Sherif El Nokaly said, “Our collaboration with the NBA aligns perfectly with our mission to bring people together. We’re proud to support and inspire athletic communities. Whether it’s families, fans, or young athletes, we achieve this through both great snacks and great moments.” Notably, the NBA Africa Egypt basketball tournament initiative is a fine example of this kind of impactful teamwork.
NBA Egypt Head Mohamed Motaleb-Abdel Soliman added, “This is a significant milestone. We are continuously working to create more opportunities for Egyptian youth to learn and play basketball. These tournaments will provide structured environments for aspiring players to progress while learning values like teamwork, leadership and respect.”
Why it matters
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programme already reaches hundreds of thousands of young people across Africa. This expansion in Egypt signals a growing commitment to grassroots basketball and the future of the sport on the continent. As a result, the NBA Africa Egypt basketball tournament underscores ongoing investment in regional talent.
Facebook post: NBA Africa and Senyorita launch Egypt’s first university basketball tournament and expand Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to 150 teams. A milestone for African basketball. #NBAAfrica #EgyptBasketball #JrNBA
Original Reporting
What we confirmed
- NBA REC University Tournament Will Feature Men’s and Women’s Teams from 40 Public and Private Universities Across Five Cities in Egypt
- Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Tournament Will Expand to Include Nearly 150 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams from More than 50 Private Schools in Alexandria and Cairo
Primary artefact
Press release
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