Africa

Mobile phone network Orange will serve as a sponsor of the International Basketball Federation’s (Fiba) 27th African Basketball Championship.

Spanish Liga football club Barcelona has signed its first commercial partnership with an African-based company after agreeing a three-year deal with the Castle Brewery.

English Premier League football club Arsenal has agreed a three-year partnership with Sterling Bank to issue co-branded debit cards in Nigeria.

Indian mobile phone manufacturer Celkon Mobiles has reached a deal to become the title sponsor of the one-day international cricket series between Zimbabwe and India.

Kenyan mobile phone network Safaricom has secured the title sponsorship rights to the Kenya Rugby Union’s premier rugby sevens tournament for the next three years, from 2013 to 2015.

Petroleum company Engen has announced a three-year deal with SuperSport United to become the main sponsor of the South African Premier Soccer League club.

The South African branch of risk management firm Aon has secured a two-year deal to become an associate sponsor of the Highveld Lions cricket team.

South African mountain bike race the Absa Cape Epic has signed up ASSOS of Switzerland as its new official premium cycling apparel sponsor.

Property development firm Migaa has teamed up with Kenya’s national rugby union team in a two-year sponsorship agreement worth Ksh15m ($174,419/€133,803).

The South African Football Association has extended its partnership with energy and chemical company Sasol through to 2017.

Uefa, football’s European governing body, has opened the sales process for the next cycle of sponsorship rights to the Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup club competitions.

Mopani Copper Mines and telecommunications company MTN Zambia have signed up as sponsors of the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup national team tournament in Zambia.

Telecommunications company CVMóvel has agreed to extend its sponsorship deal with the Cape Verde Football Federation (FCF) for an additional three years, from 2013-14 to 2015-16.

English Premier League side Sunderland has unveiled BFS Group as its new principal partner and shirt sponsor from the 2013-14 season.

Europcar South Africa has agreed a deal with the South African Rugby Union to become the official car rental supplier to SARU and its national teams.

Wananchi Group has defended its broadcast deal with Kenyan Premier League club AFC Leopards, stating it does not interfere with the league’s agreement with SuperSport.