By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-04-18 04:32:31
Ghana is eagerly gearing up to make a bid to host the 2026 edition of the Senior African Athletics Championship. The upcoming 23rd edition of the championship is set to take place in Douala, Cameroon in June, and it may provide Nigerian relay teams and individual athletes with the opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) recently concluded a meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where the President, Kalkaba Melboum, announced that all necessary preparations have been made to ensure the successful hosting of the championship in Douala. Originally scheduled for June 19 to 23, the event has been rescheduled to take place from June 21 to 26. Kalkaba emphasized that the Cameroonian government is fully supportive of the championship, which will serve as a qualifier for the Paris Olympic Games.
Nigeria has seen a growing number of athletes securing their spots in Paris in recent weeks. Athletes such as World Record holder Tobi Amusan, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Edose Ibadin, Ruth Usoro, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and Favour Ashe have all successfully qualified for the Olympics. U.S.-based sprinter Favour Ofili recently secured her ticket to Paris by running a 200m race in 22.33 seconds, surpassing the Olympic benchmark of 22.57 seconds during the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Florida.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is working diligently to ensure that the country’s relay teams make use of the Senior Athletics Championships in Douala to solidify their qualification for Paris. There are still some individual athletes who have yet to secure their spots for the Olympics, and it is hoped that they will seize the opportunity presented by the Douala 2024 Championship to do so.
On a different note, the President of Ghana Athletics, Bawa Fuseini, has announced that Ghana will be submitting a bid to host the 2026 Senior African Athletics Championship, as reported by SportsNow.com. Ghana has recently invested $34 million in renovating and completing the Legon athletic track and other facilities, which could potentially make them a strong candidate to host the championship. If successful, Ghana would become the fourth West African nation to host the championship, following in the footsteps of Senegal, Nigeria, and the Republic of Benin. The most recent edition of the championship was hosted by Mauritius in 2022.
In conclusion, the Senior African Athletics Championship in Douala presents a significant opportunity for athletes from various nations to qualify for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With Ghana showcasing interest in hosting the 2026 edition, the future looks bright for athletics in Africa.
