BY CHRISTIAN EZE
THE President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Hamad Malboum, has lauded the Nigerian government and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for successfully hosting the 3rd CAA U-18/U-20 African Athletics Championships on short notice of just two months.
Speaking during a press briefing on the final day of the five-day championship at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Malboum described Nigeria’s achievement as a significant show of commitment and capability in supporting African athletics.
He praised the progress witnessed among the participating athletes, stating that the level of competition in both age categories was impressive and indicative of Africa’s potential to compete favourably with Europe and other continents. “We are seeing more countries establishing themselves in specific events, which is encouraging for the future of athletics in Africa,” Malboum said.
Highlighting standout performers, the CAA President specifically commended South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya for their dominance and consistency across events, encouraging them to continue striving for more top positions.
However, he pointed out three key challenges the Confederation must tackle moving forward. First, he addressed growing calls, especially from football federations, for exclusive use of stadiums, separate from athletics, a move he described as costly and not readily feasible. “While the idea of separating venues isn’t out of place, the financial implications make immediate implementation difficult,” he noted.
Secondly, Malboum expressed concern over the increasing trend of African athletes switching nationalities after gaining prominence, calling it a challenge that threatens the growth and integrity of athletics on the continent. He urged stakeholders to find solutions to this growing issue.
Lastly, the CAA President decried the underrepresentation of African members in global athletics governance, despite Africa’s numerical strength and growing influence in the sport. “We are contributing immensely to global athletics development, but our percentage representation in key international bodies remains too low. This imbalance needs to be corrected,” he asserted.
Malboum also extended his appreciation to sports journalists for their dedicated coverage and professionalism throughout the championship.
Echoing the sentiment, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, thanked the media for their vital role in promoting the event. He also applauded Malboum’s swift response and support in attending to Tunisian athletes who were involved in a road accident on the eve of the final.
The championship, which hosted athletes from over 40 countries, served as a platform for emerging African talents and reaffirmed the continent’s growing presence in global athletics.
