Baboucarr Fallaboweh, Head of Sports and Sports Editor at The Alkamba Times, was today awarded the prestigious Investigative Reporting accolade at the 8th edition of the AIPS Sport Media Awards. The award, presented by AIPS President Gianni Merlo, recognizes outstanding investigative journalism in the world of sports.
Fallaboweh also secured a strong continental and global standing in the Best Opinion category, finishing 2nd in Africa and 22nd worldwide. His widely acclaimed article, titled “Is Afriskaut Reviving or Risking Gambia’s Grassroots Football? Scandal, Conflict, and FIFA’s TPO Rules”, https://alkambatimes.com/is-afriskaut-reviving-or-risking-gambias-grassroots-football-scandal-conflict-and-fifas-tpo-rules/ published on the Alkamba Times, earned him this international recognition. The piece critically examined potential conflicts, scandals, and possible violations of FIFA’s Third-Party Ownership (TPO) rules in Gambian grassroots football development.
This marks the second time Fallaboweh has excelled on the global stage. In 2021, he finished 3rd in Africa and placed among the top 37 writers in his category.
Reacting to the honor, Fallaboweh, who was named The Alkamba Times’ 2024 Journalist of the Year, expressed deep pride: “To be the only senior African journalist on this podium in this edition fills my heart with pride and gratitude. Moments like this are why we choose the newsroom — to hold people and institutions accountable while preserving the integrity of the game. I am especially happy to know that the last time this award went to Anas Aremeyaw Anas. I dedicate this award to the entire board of The Alkamba Times, my family, the entire Africa, and The Gambia.”
Sainey M.K. Marenah, Founder and Chief Editor of The Alkamba Times, said: “Baboucarr Fallaboweh’s award is a powerful validation of rigorous, fearless sports journalism in Africa. At The Alkamba Times, we remain committed to shining a light on issues that matter to Gambian football and holding stakeholders accountable. This global recognition inspires us to raise the bar even higher for investigative and opinion writing across the continent.”
The awards ceremony took place in Lausanne, home of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), highlighting the growing impact of African voices in international sports media.
