AI-Enabled Leadership and Digital Governance in African Sport Organizations: Lessons for Institutional Transformation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies can facilitate sport organizations’ forward-looking strategies, administration, accountability, and stakeholder communication. However, there is a need to consider leadership competencies, data utility, implementation infrastructure, and governance mechanisms. The purpose of this review article is to provide an Africa-centric analytical synthesis of AI-enabled leadership and digital governance in sport institutions. The review focuses on digital transformation, organizational dynamic capabilities, stakeholder governance, and responsible AI. Five conceptual areas were considered, including strategic leadership, data-driven decision-making, transparency and accountability, organizational readiness, and ethical and inclusive implementation. AI can enable financial audits, administrative reporting, resource allocation, performance evaluations, and stakeholder communications in sport organizations. However, there are risks associated with data privacy, algorithmic biases, cyber security, x- ai, digital divides, and reliance on external technologies. These factors could challenge the performance of sport organizations, particularly those with limited financial and infrastructural capabilities. The article provides a conceptual framework that connects institutional environments, AI-enabled leadership capabilities, digital governance mechanisms, and institutional transformation outcomes. Research gaps and implications were identified, including the need to study African sport-sponsoring entities, digital governance maturity models, financial accountability, and player data privacy. Since this is a review article, the proposed research strategy and thematic analysis need to go through a verifiable database search and screening process before the finalizing of the completed systematic review.