This is the appeal launched on Monday by American, African and African-origin representatives and athletes, during a forum in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly which is being held this week in the megalopolis of the East Coast of the United States.

Adam Silver, the boss of the North American Professional Basketball League (NBA), thus hailed the potential of African players or players of African origin, noting that more than 10% of NBA basketball players were born in Africa or had parents. Africans.

"We will discover, train and develop more and more NBA players and WNBA players (women's version of the NBA, Editor's note) so that they can evolve at the highest level," promised Mr. Silver in front of the press.

"Return on investment"

The sports leader also argued that to attract "billions (of dollars) of needed investment", sport in Africa must demonstrate that it is economically viable.

You need a real "return on investment", claimed Mr. Silver.

He was speaking alongside former NBA stars like Democratic Republic of Congo native Dikembe Mutombo, Nigerian-born WNBA sensation Chiney Ogwumike and current Toronto Raptors winger Pascal from Cameroon. Siakam.

American football is also turning to Africa.

More than 100 NFL players are Africans according to Osi Umenyiora, a former New York Giants club which won the Super Bowl in 2008. British, Umenyiora took the initiative to explore the pool of talented players in Ghana and in Nigeria, his parents' country of origin.

"If we look at it from the point of view of the business community, it makes sense today to invest in Africa", launched Umenyiora in front of the press, specifying that the NFL had started to open training camps and training on the continent.

"Billions of dollars"

On the football side, Africa is launching a "Super League" next year for some 24 clubs.

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For the president of the African football confederation, the South African Patrice Motsepe, this new "Super League (...) will attract billions of dollars for football in Africa in order to pay the most talented young Africans and the most talent and keep her on the continent".

Because as pointed out by the new world champion in the 100m hurdles, the Nigerian Tobi Amusan, the lack of infrastructure, especially training, risks causing athletes to flee.

However, "I do not tell (to others) not to go elsewhere" than in Africa, clarified to AFP Tobi Amusan, who herself lives in Texas.

"Africa must stop being a permanent exporting continent" of players, abounds Amadou Fall, president of the African basketball league launched in 2021.

© 2022 AFP