CAIRO (Egypt) – The continent’s 12 best teams competed this year at the Prince Abdallah Al Faisal Sports Hall in Cairo, offering an exceptional level of play on one of the biggest stages in women’s basketball, the Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA).
Among the players involved, some manage to dominate the continent while juggling other equally demanding professions.
We present to you the stories of some WBLA players and their lives outside the court.
Hagar Amer – Industrial engineering teacher
Club – Al Ahly Sporting Club
National team – Egypt. She played at the 2011 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup and made her A debut at the 2013 Women’s AfroBasket in Maputo, Mozambique.
The winger played at Sporting Alexandria from the youth categories, where she established herself as a club icon, before joining Al Ahly Sporting for this edition of the WBLA.
“Being a mother of two, time management is the most important thing for me as I have to juggle work, basketball and family.
My day starts by taking my daughter to school, then I return to the floor for an hour of practice before heading to work (at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport, where I am a teaching assistant in the industrial engineering department).
After work, I’ll pick it up before continuing with group training in the evening. I am also studying to get my doctorate. Every minute counts for me. But if you really want something, you have to be dedicated, disciplined, and eventually everything will fall into place. It’s essential to have a support system, and my husband is mine.”
Tamandani Mazulu – Financial Administrator
Club – Bravehearts Basketball
National team – Malawi, 2022
The point guard played for Mikoko Mystics before joining Bravehearts in 2018 and also serves as Director of Women’s Basketball for the Central Zone Basketball League (CEZOBAL), where she oversees development initiatives in the region.
“I’m a financial administrator at Green Girls Platform, where we promote climate justice and support young women leaders. It takes commitment, time management and a real passion for each of my roles to succeed. For me, the three are not exclusive, they complement each other. The discipline and focus I bring to basketball has helped me excel in my corporate role, and the opposite is just as true.
I learned to prioritize, making sure to balance training, matches and travel with my professional responsibilities. It’s not always easy, but my love for the game and my professional commitment push me to perform in both areas. I’m proud to be part of a community that shows women they can pursue their passions, both on the court and in the boardroom, and I’m excited to continue to inspire the next generation of women’s basketball players and leaders. ”
Ingvild Mucauro – Doctor
Club – Maputo Railway
National team – Mozambique since the 2008 Women’s U18 AfroBasket
The Mozambican winger is an executive of the selection, with a first participation in the senior women’s AfroBasket in 2015, and plays with her current club on the continental scene, with stints at Costa do Sol and Inter Clube d’Angola in 2022 and 2023.
“I started very early in both fields. My father wanted [son enfant soit] doctor, he said it was a good profession and I like helping people. My mother played basketball and I fell in love with it at a very young age. I grew up with both passions and could never choose just one. Today, I am fully fulfilled by being able to do both and I think that I am who I am because I have remained faithful to both. There would be no Ingvild the basketball player without the doctor, and vice versa. Even when I stop playing, I’ll find a way to stay involved in both worlds.”
Yacine Diop – Stylist / model
Club – Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA)
National team – Senegal U18 in 2012, selection A since 2018
The winger has spent most of her career abroad, having left Senegal at 16 to try her luck at an American high school, then on to university.
“I’m passionate about design and fashion and always wanted to become a sports model, but in college in the US we weren’t allowed to do that. I always wanted to have my own brand too, so I thought why not start my own brand and become my own model? That’s how @yattitude-sports was born and so far it’s a lot of fun. I do everything myself, from sourcing to creating and marketing, and I enjoy it a lot because I am passionate about design.
Managing the business and my basketball career is a real demand, because I manage everything myself. My sister helps me with sales. However, the two complement each other: after training or matches, I have time to concentrate on business. And I can also promote the brand to my teammates and other athletes around me.”
Victoria Majekodunmi – Digital marketer / graphic designer
Club – First Bank Basketball
National team – France, 2014 in U18 to 2016 in U20
This Franco-Nigerian fullback played mainly in France, notably in the second division and with Mondeville in the first division, and represented the French youth teams (5×5 and 3×3) at the 2014 U18 European Championships, the 2015 U19 Women’s World Cup and the 2016 U20 European Championship, Division A.
“I own a digital marketing and graphic design agency, Victorious Marketing Digital (@victorious_md on Instagram). I managed to study while playing from a young age, always looking to deepen my knowledge in this profession that fascinates me. Today, I have three degrees and a business that I love. Playing basketball involves a lot of travel, but that doesn’t stop me from running my business, because all I need is a laptop and a good connection Wi‑Fi.”
Betty Kananu – Banker
Club – Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)
National team – Kenya, 2017 to 2019
The strong winger has been playing on the Kenyan and African scene since her arrival at KPA in 2016, before joining Equity Bank Basketball in 2018, where she still plays, with two participations in the women’s AfroBasket in 2017 and 2019.
“Managing both requires discipline, time management and a lot of dedication. My passion, in fact, is what motivates me to excel at both. I maintain a strong level of focus that helps me prioritize my priorities effectively. I draw on the mental toughness and pressure management learned in sports for my banking job, while collaborating with my colleagues and teammates to achieve my goals.”
Anbel Cossa – Penitentiary agent
Club – Maputo Railway
National team – Mozambique since U18 2004
This shooting guard has made a name for herself on the continent since her senior debut in 2005, with four club titles, two with Grupo Desportivo (2007, 2008) and two with her current club.
“It’s not easy to balance the two, but I love what I do, on the field and in my daily work. Being a mother also adds pressure to managing my life as a working woman, but I can count on a strong support system, without which I could not perform as well. My colleagues understand when I have to be away for competitions and take over. My family is also very present to help me with my son, which allows me to stay focused, because I know that they are behind me.”
Theresa Ebiega – Software tester / Quality assurance (QA)
Club – First Bank Nigeria
The Nigerian leader spent her career at First Bank Basketball, with stints in Cameroon under the colors of the Armed Forces and Police Basketball (FAP). She has not yet worn the jersey of the D’Tigress, the national team.
“I’m still in the transition phase from university to the tech and Software Testing market, and balancing basketball with such a demanding career hasn’t been easy. However, it showed me what I’m really capable of, as I had to juggle training, studies and some freelance assignments.
Basketball gave me the discipline, resilience, and mindset to face challenges – the same mindset I bring to software testing today.
For me, this journey is personal. It’s about proving to myself, and to young women across Africa, that we don’t have to choose between our passion and our profession. We can perform well in both. We can dominate on the floor while building strong careers outside of sports. And every step I take in tech reminds me that I’m building something that will last well beyond the last whistle.”
Selina Okumu – Demand Planning Manager
Club – Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)
National team – Kenya, 2017 to 2025
The strong winger has played with Kenya’s most successful club since 2016, with a one-year break at Equity Bank in 2018.
“I have balanced my professional career and basketball by giving each the dose of dedication and discipline they deserve. My passion for both fuels each area. The focus I gain on the court strengthens my daily work, and the structure provided by my career boosts my performance as an athlete. Excelling in both has taught me resilience, time management and consistency. The support I receive from the management of Mars Wrigley Kenya and KPA, both at work and when I am traveling playing, makes this journey possible. Their confidence in my ability to shine in these two worlds motivates me to always aim higher.”
Odile Tetero – Anesthesiologist
Club – Rwanda Energy Group (REG)
National team – Rwanda since 2019
The Rwandan leader has worn the colors of three national clubs: IPRC Huye (2017-2021), APR (2022-2023) and REG (2021-2022, then 2024 to today).
“I always wanted to work in healthcare from a young age and my parents encouraged me in this path. I also loved sports in general. I fell in love with basketball in high school, but I knew that I would have to work very hard to continue doing both. Being a student-athlete forged in me a resilience that I still rely on today to reconcile these two passions. I must manage my time rigorously and organize my schedule in a way to meet the demands of my career – y including studying – while doing my individual sessions, weight training and group training. It’s not easy, but I love it.”
Natalie Mwangale – Operations Assistant
Club – Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)
National team – Kenya, 2015 to 2025
The Kenyan leader, a true veteran, began her career in 2013 with Eagle Wings in Nairobi before joining KPA a year later, where she became an icon of the club and the selection.
“Combining work and basketball has been a challenge, but I have a great support system. I work rotating shifts, which gives me time to train individually and then with the team. I’m fortunate to grow for my employer and have the full support of the company (KPA), because they know I’m such a successful athlete at work.”
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