Nigeria, Other African Youths To Fight For Honours As ANOCA Host Maiden African School Sports

Nigeria, Other African Youths To Fight For Honours As ANOCA Host Maiden African School Sports

By Niyi Busari 

 The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has announced that the maiden edition of the African Schools' Sports Games will be held in Annaba, Algeria, from July 24 to August 5, 2025. 

The event, which will be held across four venues, is designed to serve as a crucial platform for discovering and nurturing young athletic talent across the continent.

This initiative is a vital springboard to prepare Africa's future stars for the primary international stages. 

Its launch is particularly timely as the continent prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games for the first time. 

The goal is to strengthen and encourage young people to begin honing their talents and skills for elite competitions like the Olympic Games.

The Games will feature a comprehensive programme, with at least 20 sporting events, providing young athletes with many opportunities.

In a significant move to ensure mass participation, the host nation of Algeria has offered free accommodation and free entry visas to all 54 African countries. 

This gesture of visa waivers may also be intended to support ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf, an Algerian national who leads the continental Olympic body.

Nigeria confirmed participation in the Games. According to the Nigeria's Leader of Delegation, Amaka Ashiofu from the ational Sports Commission (NSC) the 68 Athletes representing the country were from 10 Sports from where Nigeria figures it has relative advantage.

They will feature in 10 sports. These sports are: Athletics, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Canoeing, Football, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cycling, Swimming and Badminton.

In a determined bid to ensure that those who were entered for the Games were bona fide students who had met the standards as genuine, they brought letters of attestation from their schools and report cards.

After their selection, they were camped for 12 days because of their promotional examinations.

The Secretary General of the NOC, Tunde Poopola, said he was confident the youngsters being show-cased in the Games would perform well during the competition because he could see enthusiasm on their faces.

''I can see enthusiasm in their faces. They are full of innocence and there are no previous records to reference as this is a brand new Games.''

Coach Fortune Olayiwola of Canoeing said of the team's performers are programmed to perform creditably, especially when motivated. 

''If you motivate them to do well, they tend to exceed expectations. 

Victor Nwangwu of Taekwondo expressed the same sentiments, ''even though the team is new, they have had some considerable experience from some local competitions and limited international meet.

Coach Yakubu Musa Argungu, of the Beach Volleyball re-echoed the same sentiments when he said although team is relatively new and honed their skills using improvised facility, they hope to leave lasting impressions on the Games.

''It is the same sandy surface but is only the weather that is different. Whatever, the case we promise to make it giving the impressive showings recently. 

''Some members of team have had considerable international exposure,'' Musa whipped.

'While the Games' had already commenced, the Algerian organiser have planned an official opening ceremonies

The Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director-General, Bukola Olopade are expected to arrive in Ànnaba to witness the what promises to be a grand opening ceremonies