The financial hole coronavirus ripped in African sport

“In a month it depends on your contract with your team, it can be or $79 or $92. The money we get from basketball is not even enough to do anything,” explained Ginikachukwu Ofuegbu, a 17-year-old rookie with Raptor Basketball club of Nigeria.

Charles Ibeziako, Head Coach and owner of Raptors Basketball Club of Nigeria, said that the teams are heavily dependent on sponsorship – and “when the league finishes, no more payment.”

“You’re managing 12 players’ average 50,000 ($137.00) monthly; good players 70k ($191) 80k ($218) monthly. It’s not like football.

“The more money sponsors give, the more money we’re going to give the players. But right now, there’s nothing we can do.”

Basketball’s financial woes have spread globally, affecting African players across the world.

Evelyn Akhator is a forward for Flammes Carolo in the French Women’s Basketball League, winner of the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket with Nigeria.

Playing in France means signing a new contract every year, and pay is estimated to be an average of $20,000 monthly. The price to pay due to the pandemic is the fall in revenue from matchday ticket sales and merchandise.

“I’m still getting paid but from next month (June) our money will be cut. The government is paying 86% so we’re losing 14% percent from the club.

“The other 14%, it’s the team that balances out. For sure they are losing,” says Akhator who was drafted by the Dallas Wings of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) as the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft.

The French Women’s Basketball League has been stopped with no winner, and no relegation places.

“I’m mad – we supposed to get bonuses, but this pandemic came and now we don’t have bonuses. If you’re top four (of the league) you get bonuses, if you get to finals or semi-finals – that’s how you get your bonus.

“It’s depressing but we can’t control that aspect. We can only control how we respond to it.

“It’s not easy staying positive. This pandemic will mess the whole women’s sport generally.”