At the moment, Africa and padel are not closely linked, that's clear. However, this is changing and Padel Mag offers you to analyze this.

The Maghreb, a step ahead

Morocco has many infrastructures / projects allowing it to stand out as the spearhead of the discipline in the Maghreb: we have the CAFC,Sport oasis City, or the Dakhla Padel - that we can quote.

Other very interesting projects can be mentioned, especially that of the "investor" Nacho Payán, who is positioned as one of the potential standard-bearers of padel on the continent. 

For what reasons ? Quite simply because Nacho Payán, a former player who now graduated from the Spanish Federation of Padel and technical director of the African Padel Confederation, created in 2018 an academy de Padel in Casablanca, bringing together all the characteristics of European padel clubs. As you might expect, this brings a new lease of life to African padel, giving it the keys to now be on the world map. Beyond that, the country has more than 50 land (private as well as public), and above all benefits from the help of the Moroccan tennis federation, which is not negligible.

The country is also preparing to host an International Padel Open in November 2021. It will take place in the region of Dakhla Wadi Eddahab and will be overseen by Sahara Events as well as by theAECP. 

Besides the country of Mohammed VI, Egypt is not left out either. Although it is slightly behind in relation to Morocco, initiatives and projects are not lacking in this country. Project Go Padel which saw the light of day in 2014 is a perfect example of development. With more than 6 different padel centers scattered throughout Egypt, and more than 10 padel courts, GO Padel registers as one of the leaders of the discipline in the land of the pharaohs.

But how can we talk about padel and Egypt without mentioning an extraordinary event that took place in this wonderful country? In December 2019, the WPT decided to carry out an exceptional exhibition match. Considering that a picture is worth 1000 words, we let you admire for yourselves the setting of this match and the impact it had on the planet padel (and not that).

 

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QUID of Sub-Saharan Africa?

The observation is clear: il There is a strong disparity in terms of padel development and infrastructure between the Maghreb and the rest of Africa. But is that a way of saying that sub-Saharan Africa is starting from zero? Absolutely not. Countries like Senegal, Equatorial Guinea as well as South Africa have already boarded the "padel wagon".

South Africa although it is not famous (at present) as a land of padel, could well become one. With the support ofSouth African Padel Association (SAPA), things tend to move quickly large V and while the country had only one padel court in 2018, it has more than 6 in 2021 on 4 different sites. The training of coaches through international coaches, the training of players and the supervision of the latter by the SAPA encourage us to be optimistic for the future and why not, to imagine the country of Nelson Mandela becoming a padel superpower in the decade to come.

The finding is almost similar in Senegal, where the ambition is clearly displayed: The country must become a hub for padel on the continent. The project " The Palm grove Sporting - ", is one of the most convincing examples of the integration of padel in this country which is not yet imbued with the culture of "la pala". With capoeira classes, fitness, soccer fields in 5etc .. le The complex aims to satisfy the greatest number of sports enthusiasts, and it is by including the padel courts that it differentiates itself from other potential African competitors. Although they are used for leisure and entertainment purposes, it is not excluded that potential tournaments or simple exhibition matches will be played there in the future, allowing Senegal to be given the identity of a land of padel.

TV as a potential “game-changer”?

With the arrival of a group like Canal + in the world of padel, it is clear that the situation will change. Some countries, currently landlocked in terms of padel broadcasts, will most certainly experience a radical change in the years to come. The upcoming broadcast of World Padel Tour on Canal + and its African channels could completely reshuffle the cards in terms of sporting hierarchy, and could accelerate the process of familiarization & development of padel with the African continent.

 

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Nasser Hoverini

Passionate about football, I discovered padel in 2019. Since then, I have been crazy in love with this sport to the point of abandoning my favorite sport.

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