Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, is set to welcome the continent’s top young athletes as it hosts the 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships from July 16 to 20, 2025.
Certified by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), the African U18/U20 Athletics Championships aim to discover Africa’s next generation of track and field stars, showcasing elite youth talent from across the continent.
Read Also: From Nigeria to the World: 12 Nigerian athletes who switched nationality
Over 900 athletes set for action
According to a statement by Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media to the National Sports Commission (NSC), a total of 43 countries have confirmed participation, with 937 athletes and officials already registered.
“The competition will feature intense rivalries across male and female events, as Africa’s athletics powerhouses converge in Nigeria,” the statement noted.
Host nation Nigeria will field the largest contingent, with 60 male and 50 female athletes, supported by 22 officials, totalling 132 participants.
South Africa follows with 42 men, 40 women, and 18 officials (100 total), while Ethiopia brings 30 men, 27 women, and 12 officials (69 total).
Kenya has also confirmed its presence with 25 male and 25 female athletes and 17 officials, totalling 67 representatives, while Algeria enters with 65 participants, comprising 30 men, 19 women, and 16 officials.
Other nations competing include Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Cameroon, Senegal, and Uganda, making for a truly pan-African showdown.
This continental event comes just two months after the city successfully hosted the 22nd National Sports Festival, which drew over 15,000 athletes and officials. The event earned Abeokuta high praise for its organisation, infrastructure, and hospitality.
With the African U18/U20 Championships on the horizon and more international competitions in the pipeline, Nigeria continues to establish itself as a hub for sports development, youth empowerment, and continental engagement.
