From humble beginnings to highlight plays, Badio’s story is one of resilience, opportunity, and relentless work ethic.
Brancou Badio: Valencia’s spark plug and Senegal’s pride
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Six years ago, Brancou Badio was battling in Spain’s lower leagues. Today, in his EuroLeague debut season, the explosive guard is igniting Valencia Basket off the bench, lifting fans at Roig Arena with end-to-end energy, shot-making bursts, and the occasional chase‑down block. His path from Senegal to Europe’s top competition has been anything but linear. Badio’s steady mantra — never too high, never too low — has turned every twist into a step forward. For young hoopers, his message is simple: it’s not about one moment; it’s about recognizing opportunities — and seizing them when they appear.
From Rufisque to Spain
Born El Hadji Omar Brancou Badio — and nicknamed Papi — he was 15 and playing in Rufisque, near Dakar, when Rob Orellana of Canarias Basketball Academy (CBA) discovered him. At first glance, Badio didn’t leap off the floor. What did stand out was his feel for the game and a work ethic that beat the sunrise.
“When he made me that offer, it was a dream come true,” Badio said. “When I arrived in Spain, I saw there was a whole world to discover — and I told myself, this is just the beginning.”
The adjustment was real. After he was cleared to play for La Matanza, a CBA-linked team in Spain’s sixth division, Badio quickly flashed physicality, shooting range, and disruptive defense.
“My first year I just practiced. In the second, I played on Tenerife’s first division team — sixth division overall — with La Matanza,” he said.
Breaking through at Barça
Progress came fast. Within a year, Diego Ocampo brought Badio into FC Barcelona’s youth setup, and a national-team call-up with Senegal followed. Ocampo handed him a major role on Barça B, where Badio averaged 13.4 points in Spain’s third division in 2019–20. On December 30, 2020, he made his EuroLeague debut for Barça, playing 22 seconds against FC Bayern Munich. The moment was short; the message was loud: keep going.
"It looks like everything happened really fast, but it wasn't like that... I practiced really hard with Diego Ocampo in the mornings, more or less three times a week," Badio said. "We did exercises in the afternoon. So it was a lot of work, a lot of work. I appreciate it because if I hadn't done that work, I wouldn't be here today. But, I focused on training and tried to improve little by little."
A professional leap in Germany
Opportunity and roster traffic pushed Badio to seek the next challenge. He followed Ocampo to Fraport Skyliners in Frankfurt, transitioning from prospect to full professional overnight.
“Leaving Barça wasn’t easy. We had a very good team — Juani Marcos, Leandro Bolmaro, Sergi Martínez, Ibou Badji — and not everyone could move up.
"With Diego [Ocampo] going to Germany, there was an opportunity to go with him and I went. It wasn't easy. It was a new world for him, but also for me. I was going to be a professional, a first-team player. I went there to say that I was already a professional basketball player."
The season tested him. Frankfurt finished 17th; Ocampo was dismissed in March; Badio averaged 10.6 points. When it ended, he became a free agent and headed back to Spain looking for a foothold.
A one‑month chance in Manresa
That foothold arrived on May 10, 2022: a one‑month deal at injury-hit BAXI Manresa under Pedro Martinez. It was his only offer... And he grabbed it.
“My German season was over while Spain was still playing. Coach Pedro needed help, and I signed for a month. Sometimes you just have to stay ready and take the chance that’s in front of you.”
Badio made an immediate impression with 7 points in his debut to beat Unicaja Malaga 100–95. He followed with 11 against Barça in his first game versus his former club and fit seamlessly alongside future EuroLeague standouts Sylvain Francisco and Chima Moneke. He re‑signed for two more seasons, finding stability and trust with Martinez. In 2023–24, he broke out: 13.4 points across 36 ACB games and a playoff push. When Martínez moved to Valencia, Badio became the first player to follow.
"Valencia is a beautiful city. The weather is always spectacular, and it's crazy to experience the new arena for the first time, for the players and the fans. With the confidence we have in Pedro, we just keep competing every night."
EuroCup breakout, EuroLeague return
In Martinez’s system, Badio debuted in the BKT EuroCup and took another step: 9.6 points on elite efficiency (64.8% 2FG, 39.8% 3FG, 84.5% FT) plus 2.8 assists in 20 games. Valencia reached the EuroCup Semifinals and the Spanish League finals, and this autumn Badio realized a long‑term goal — returning to the EuroLeague, this time as a rotation piece with real responsibility.
“It’s always been a dream, but also something I believed in,” he said. “Now that I’m here, nothing changes. Same mentality. Keep doing the work and see where it takes me.”
Step by step
From a CBA scholarship to a cameo in the EuroLeague, from Frankfurt’s turbulence to Manresa’s lifeline and Valencia’s stage, Badio’s climb has been steady and intentional. He doesn’t predict; he prepares.
"You never imagine getting so far when you have started from such a low position. So that's why I say, I'm always very grateful and I try to go day by day, because I can't think too far, I just have to think about tomorrow. Step by step. I am really proud of what I have accomplished," Badio said.
Asked where he sees himself six years from now, he smiles.
“I’ll be 33. I don’t know where I’ll be, but hopefully, I will still be here in Valencia,” he said.
No shortcuts. No guarantees. Just the same approach that brought him from Rufisque to Roig Arena. Step by step.