Senegal beats Nigeria to host African Athletics Zone II, U-18, U-20 Championships

Posted : 08 January 2025

The capital city of Dakar has beaten Nigeria to host the 2025 CAA Zone II U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championship, as the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has revealed the host for the cadet championships.

Dakar, Senegal, was selected as the host of the championships, according to the President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Zone II, Chief Tonobok Okowa.

Okowa, who is also the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said that "The Land of the Hospitable Lions" got the nod ahead of Nigeria, Guinea, and Burkina Faso because CAA Zone II aims to expand its reach, unite the region through sport, and give every West African country a sense of belonging.

“We’ve hosted CAA Zone II competitions in Benin Republic, Togo, and Ghana, which are in the western part of the subregion. It’s time to give the eastern side their fair opportunity to create history and add value to a sport we all love and cherish with passion,” Okowa said.

He added that the excellent sporting facilities in Senegal, coupled with their rich sporting heritage, are additional reasons why the CAA Zone II U-18 and U-20 Championships will be staged there.

Okowa expressed his elation at the choice of Dakar as the host city for the sporting fiesta—a decision that followed the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Zone II's evaluation of Senegal's sporting facilities, government guarantees, and financial strength.

He said: “Senegal Athletics embodies a great deal of energy, with resourceful, hospitable, and dynamic people who understand and appreciate the nuances of hospitality. It is a country with a population rich in diversity.

“We understand there will be a few concerns. As a government, we will provide assurances on everything required to make the event successful. We will ensure adequate security for all participants.

“We will also support Senegal and Senegal Athletics to ensure seamless transportation, accommodation, and crowd management. We will do everything we can to create an enduring experience for visitors attending the CAA Zone II events.”

Tonobok Okowa emphasized that harnessing the sporting potential of the youth is a key component of his administration’s development agenda, noting that his administration plans to use athletics and the combined U-18 and U-20 Championships as a tool to create opportunities for young people.

He said: “For us at the Confederation of African Athletics, we will use athletics as a tool to create opportunities for young people, helping them see growth in their career paths. We have started to push this agenda through our member National Associations.

“We are using athletics as a corrective narrative—an enabler that will inspire our youth to envision a brighter future.”

Okowa described the Senegalese government as a “great promoter” of athletics and sports in general.

Over 500 athletes and officials from 16 countries are expected to compete at the championships. The last weekend in March is the tentative date for the competition, but Okowa said the CAA Zone II secretariat will finalize the exact dates for the event.

Senegal beats Nigeria to host African Athletics Zone II, U-18, U-20 Championships

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