Tag: African School Games

Team Nigeria delivered a spectacular performance on Day 4  of athletics  events at the inaugural African School Games in Algeria, securing a total of six medals, comprising two gold and four silver, across multiple track and field events.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade who witnessed the inspiring performances in Algeria , expressed pride in the athletes’ achievements.

 “I came to Algeria to support these young athletes as the future of Nigerian sports, so I need to be here to encourage them. A lot of these athletes are a product of our Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative and they’ve continued to grow steadily, making the IJA initiative a success story we are proud of,” Olopade said.

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In the highly anticipated Girls’ 200m Final, Miracle Ezechukwu stormed to victory to claim the gold medal, while her compatriot, Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo took the silver. Both athletes had earlier made headlines in the 100m final event, where Rosemary won gold and Miracle clinched the silver medal.

The Boys’ 200m Final saw Nigeria’s Perfect Faye deliver a solid performance to clinch the silver medal, adding to his earlier contributions on the track.

In the Boys’ High Jump, Mohammed Jimoh soared to new heights to earn Nigeria another silver medal, displaying both talent and promise in the field events.

Team Nigeria’s relay squads also capped off the athletics campaign in style.

The Girls’ Medley Relay Team, composed of Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo, Eniololobo Rebecca, and Jecinter Lawrence Andrew, delivered a commanding performance to claim the gold medal, underlining the depth and synergy within the team.

Meanwhile, the Boys’ Medley Relay Team, Emmanuel Akolo, Mohammed Jimoh, Perfect Faye, and Jesulayomi Ogundijo fought hard to take silver, rounding off an impressive relay showing for Nigeria.

The head coach of Nigeria’s basketball team to  the inaugural African School Games, Adebayo Abdullahi Bukola, has expressed immense pride after  the team secured a silver medal in the girls’ 3×3 basketball event held in Annaba, Algeria.

Reflecting on the tournament,  Bukola described the experience as unforgettable, especially for the young athletes—many of whom were competing internationally for the first time.

 “It was an amazing experience,” he said. “Only one of the girls had played outside the country before, so this was a huge opportunity for the rest. Representing Nigeria was a dream comes true for all of us. It’s a great honour because we were among the few chosen to wear the national colours.”

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While the team narrowly missed out on the gold medal, Bukola acknowledged the challenges during the final moments of the match.

“We had the gold medal within reach,” he admitted. “We can partly attribute the loss to officiating, but we also lost our composure in the crucial moments. Still, bringing home a silver medal is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

He emphasized that the tournament was a valuable learning experience and expressed optimism about the future.

 “With the experience we’ve gained here, I believe we’ll perform even better next time. Overall, I’m very happy and extremely proud of the girls—they played with heart and passion. It was truly emotional.”

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed Nigeria’s participation in the maiden African School Games, scheduled to hold between  July 26 and  August 5 in Algeria.

The landmark Championship, organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), is set to redefine youth sports development on the African continent.

 “This is a milestone opportunity for Nigeria to showcase and nurture its school-age sporting talents on a continental stage,” said the Director General of the NSC, Honourable  Bukola Olopade. “We are working closely with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), school authorities, and parents to ensure the successful preparation and representation of Team Nigeria.”

Team Nigeria will compete in 10 disciplines, including athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, canoeing, football, swimming, table tennis, cycling, and taekwondo.

The official arrival of participants, including Chefs de Mission, and the opening of the Games Village is set for July 23.

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Speaking on Nigeria’s renewed hope sports mandate and the future of Nigerian sports, Olopade stated: “This is a fresh air in the NSC as youth are reaping from the sports economy we’re building, a mandate given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the NSC leadership. 21 federations have competed internationally outside Nigeria since we assumed office, thus giving equal attention to all sports. We’re engaging the youth, building our sports economy, and developing our sports.”

A valid school certificate will be required for all athletes, in line with event regulations. The NSC and NOC will also coordinate with parents and guardians to obtain paternal authorizations for eligible minors participating in the Games.

The African School Games represents a first-of-its-kind event for the continent, dedicated exclusively to young African school children. Its mission is clear: to provide a unique platform for talent identification, grassroots development, and youth integration—while promoting the Olympic values of excellence, solidarity, and fraternity.