Rugby Africa Appoints Former NBA Africa Executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff
Aïcha Diop | Image by Rugby Africa
Rugby Africa has named Aïcha Diop, a former senior executive at NBA Africa, as Chief of Staff to the President, where she will focus on special projects within the Office of the President.
Diop will work directly under Herbert Mensah - President of Rugby Africa, Executive Board Member of World Rugby, and Chairman of World Rugby Regions, the body that unites the presidents of all six continental rugby associations. Mensah's dual mandate puts him at the intersection of continental and global sports governance, engaging with heads of state, government ministers, and development finance institutions on sport's role in economic and social development.
Diop brings 18 years of international experience spanning Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. At NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League, she was part of the founding team that launched the BAL, leading multi-market campaigns and cross-functional initiatives that expanded the league's continental footprint. She also held senior roles at IBM, overseeing regional strategy across multiple African markets. Beyond that, her CV includes delivery of major international events - Formula 1, UFC, and global football competitions - giving her a broad grounding in high-performance sports environments.
She holds a Master's in Sport & Lifestyle Management from Rome Business School and a Bachelor's in Business Administration.
Herbert Mensah said: "We are delighted to welcome Aïcha Diop to Rugby Africa. Her exceptional track record, international exposure, and deep understanding of the sports and commercial landscape make her a remarkable addition to our leadership team. Attracting talent of this calibre reflects our ambition to elevate rugby across Africa and position Rugby Africa as a modern, high-performance organisation on the global stage."
Diop added:"It is a great honour to join Rugby Africa at such an exciting time for the sport across the continent. Under the leadership of President Herbert Mensah, Rugby Africa is playing an increasingly important role on both the African and global stage. The continued success of African rugby, exemplified by South Africa's Rugby World Cup victories in 1995, 2007, 2019, and most recently in 2023, reflects the immense potential of the continent. I look forward to contributing to this momentum, supporting the delivery of Rugby Africa's strategic priorities, and working alongside its stakeholders to further unlock the power of rugby as a driver of opportunity, unity, and sustainable development across Africa."
Rugby Africa governs the sport across 40 member unions and organises competitions including Rugby World Cup qualifiers and the Africa Sevens, which serves as an Olympic qualifying event.
