Nigeria Hosts Africa’s Future Stars as Athletics Championships Return After 28 Years
Nigeria Hosts Africa’s Future Stars as Athletics Championships Return After 28 Years
Twenty-eight years after Ibadan, Oyo State, played host to the third edition of the African U-20 Athletics Championships, Nigeria is once again preparing to welcome the continent’s most promising young athletes to its soil.
This time, the spotlight shifts to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, which will host the combined African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships—a major continental event that brings together emerging track and field talents from across Africa.
Scheduled to hold from July 16 to 20, 2025, the competition marks a significant return of international youth athletics to Nigeria, underlining the country’s renewed commitment to developing grassroots sports and promoting athletic excellence among the youth.
The joint U-18 and U-20 championships not only provide a platform for young athletes to compete at a high level but also serve as a springboard for future Olympians and world champions. For Nigeria, hosting the event is an opportunity to showcase its organizational capabilities, inspire its homegrown talents, and contribute to the growth of athletics on the continent.
With athletes, coaches, and officials expected from over 30 African nations, Abeokuta is set to become a vibrant hub of sporting energy and continental unity for five days in July.
It would be recalled that at the 1997 event in Ibadan, Nigeria dominated the medal table, securing 39 medals 13 gold, 11 silver, and 15 bronze, surpassing Algeria, which finished second with seven gold, six silver, and five bronze medals. Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana followed in third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively.
The African U-20 Championships, which began in 1994 in Algiers, Algeria, cater to athletes aged 19 and under, while the U-18 edition was introduced in 2013 for those aged 15 to 17.
Notably, Fidelis Gadzama, who won the 400m gold at the 1997 edition, is now a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the upcoming event in Abeokuta.
Algeria was stripped of the hosting right before Nigeria got the nod to host the competition.
Rosa Collins-Okah, a former Nigerian triple jumper and LOC member, highlighted the importance of the championships as a platform for young athletes to gain competitive experience and prepare for global competitions.
Collins-Okah noted that the event significantly contributes to the growth of athletics across the continent. With about 36 days to go, preparations are in full swing under the leadership of Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission and chairman of the LOC.
South Africa, the current overall champion, is set to defend its title, while Nigeria’s young athletes are determined to make a mark on home ground.
This is not just a competition—it is a celebration of Africa’s emerging stars in athletics,” said Olopade.
“Nigeria is proud to host again and showcase its capacity to organise world-class sporting events.”
According to the LOC, Abeokuta was chosen due to its advanced facilities and growing reputation as a center for sports development.
Enefiok Udo-Obong, former Nigerian international and chairman of the LOC’s Technical Sub-Committee, described the championship as a crucial foundation for Africa’s future Olympic and world champions.
This prestigious biennial event will draw over 500 athletes from 53 African nations to the newly upgraded MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, which recently served as the venue for the 22nd National Sports Festival.
