Sports
Amaka Commends Nigeria’s Young Talents, Expresses Satisfaction with Team’s Progress at African Youth Games
By Joel Ajayi
The Head of Nigeria’s Mission to the ongoing 2025 African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola, Amaka Ashiofu, has expressed satisfaction with Team Nigeria’s performance, noting that the country’s efforts have yielded positive results, with several athletes securing qualification places for the Youth Olympic Games scheduled to hold next year in Dakar, Senegal.
Amaka spoke at the El dorado Beach Park in Luanda after Nigeria’s female beach volleyball team defeated Egypt 2–0 to win the gold medal at the Games.
While acknowledging existing organisational challenges, she praised the resilience and determination of Nigerian athletes.
“We’ve been doing well. Although the organisation hasn’t been very palatable, Nigerians are strong people. No matter the situation, we always find a way to pull through,” she said.
According to Amaka, Nigeria’s participation in the African Youth Games was largely driven by the tournament’s role as a qualifying platform for the Youth Olympic Games, a decision she said has been justified by the athletes’ strong performances across various sports.
“In badminton, Team Nigeria reached the final, while our female beach volleyball team won a gold medal. Automatically, that means they have qualified for the Olympics. Each time they win gold, they secure qualification,” she explained.
She added that Nigeria also recorded notable success in athletics, winning six gold medals, with events such as the relay races and the 100 metres flat believed to be part of the Olympic qualification pathway, further boosting the country’s prospects.
Beyond celebrating the achievements, Amaka raised key concerns about the future, particularly the sustainability of Nigeria’s participation in international youth competitions and the need for structured athlete development.
“The important questions are whether this progress can be sustained in the long term and whether the federation will continue to integrate younger athletes into major tournaments,” she noted.
She stressed that Nigeria is adopting the right approach by fielding genuinely young athletes, unlike some neighbouring countries where age discrepancies are evident.
“When you watch teams like Gambia and Sierra Leone, you can see that some of their athletes are not truly under-17. But with Nigeria, we are trying to get it right. Our athletes are genuinely young,” she said.
Amaka concluded that this youth-focused strategy would ensure continuity and long-term success for Nigerian sports.
“With this approach, the system will be sustainable. These young athletes can be nurtured, developed and gradually transitioned into the elite level,” she added.
Sports
AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.
In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.
Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.
The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.
As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.
The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.
The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.
With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.
Africa is coming to Abuja.
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