Twenty-eight years ago, the city of Ibadan, Oyo State, hosted the third African U-20 Athletics Championships, a biennial event, which provides a platform for the continent’s budding track and field stars to showcase their talent. And in 2013, the oil-rich city of Warri, Delta State, was picked as venue for the maiden Africa U-18 championships.
While Ibadan ’97, which was for athletes aged 19 or under produced Fidelis Gadzama, who went on to capture a gold medal for Nigeria at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Warri 2013 (for athletes aged 15 to 17), produced Tobi Amusan.
To give a common platform for African youth and junior athletes to prove themselves, the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) decided to merge the two championships in 2017.
The city of Abeokuta, Ogun State, is set to witness what will go down as the biggest gathering of young stars for the 3rd combined U-18/U-20 Championships from July 16 to 20.
Ogun State accepted to present the platform for the young athletes to paint the picture of the future of African athletics after two countries, Madagascar and Algeria, opted out.
Now, the focus of many African athletics-lovers turn on the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, expectations are high that the young stars will be able to make a statement a bold statement.
For members of the Local Organising Commiittee (LOC), the 2025 CAA U18/U20 championships will be a platform for discovering new talents and showcasing the best of African athletics.
Chairman of the LOC, Hon. Bukola Olapade, who is also the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), said: “We have high hopes that this year’s event will be the best ever going by the level of enthusiasm shown by all the countries.”
African athletics powerhouses, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, are poised for another competitive showdown in Abeokuta.So far, South Africa has remained a dominant figure in the combined CAA U18/U20 Championships and are not about to relinquish their dominance.
“The South African delegation is made up of 70 strong athletes, and that is how serious we take these Championships just like all others before this edition,” Media Consultant to Athletics South Africa, Sifiso Cele, said. “The mandate given to each athlete is simple, ‘Bring the African title home.’
Nigerian athletics officials are cautiously optimistic about tilting the scales. To them, the number one priority is to give exposure to some of the young athletes that have dominated the local scene for some time.
“Though we have prepared our athletes to give us podium performances, because we desire to top the medals table, for us this championships is not a do or die,” AFN Head Coach, Solomon Aliyu, said. For the Secretary of Athletics Kenya Youth and Development Committee, Joseph Ilovi, their aim is to dominate the events.
“Two years ago in Ndola, Zambia, we fielded a smaller team because some of our dependable athletes could not get passports on time. But this time, we are fielding a bigger team, and I am confident Kenya will assert its dominance in Abeokuta,” Ilovi stated.
From all reckoning, Abeokuta 2025 is going to be explosive and exciting and will also offer potential for upsets and new records. With over 800 athletes expected to participate in this year’s CAA U18/U20 championships, member federations are hopeful of achieving their aim of discovering and developing the next generation of African athletics stars.
Some of the athletes that have passed through the championships, include current World 100m Hurdles champion and record holder (12.12secs) Tobi Amusan as well as Botswana sprinter, Letsile Tebogo, a Paris 2024 Olympics 200m champion and African record holder (19.46sec).
At Ibadan ’97 edition of the African U-20 Championships, one Nigerian athlete, Fidelis Gadzama, who won the 400m gold medal, is a member of the LOC, heading one of the Sub-committees for this year’s CAA U-18/U-20 event in Abeokuta.
Gadzama rose from the championships in Ibadan to become an Olympics gold medallist in Team Nigeria’s 4x400m relay at Sydney 2000. At Ibadan ‘97, Nigerian athletes dominated the championships, topping the medals table with a total of 39 medals, comprising 13 gold medals, 11 silver, and 15 bronze medals, ahead of Algeria with seven gold, six silver, and five bronze medals. Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana were in third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively.
Some up and coming stars, including World junior champion in the U20 men’s 100m, Bayanda Walaza, is expected to compete for South Africa in Abeokuta, just as women’s long jump finalist at Paris 2024 Olympics, Prestina Ochonogor, is expected to be in action for Team Nigeria.
When Nigeria hosted the maiden U-18 Championships in Warri in 2013, the country also topped the medals table.
Mauritius hosted the first ever combined CAA U18/U20 Athletics Championships in 2022, while the city of Ndola, Zambia, hosted the second edition in 2023.
Meanwhile, a member of the LOC, former Nigeria triple jumper, Rosa Collins-Okah, has said that the championships in Abeokuta will serve as a major platform for African junior athletes to compete on the continental stage.
Collins-Okah, who emerged the National Sports Festival triple jump champion at Makurdi ‘96, added that the event offers valuable experience for athletes preparing for higher-level competitions.
“These championships have contributed to the growth and development of athletics in Africa, and I expect Abeokuta 2025 to add to the number,” she stated.
