…Algeria leads Riyadh with largest African contingent
Team Nigeria is set to make a bold statement on the global stage as 27 African countries storm Riyadh for the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games, a festival of unity, and fierce competition.
With a 46-member delegation of 35 athletes and 11 officials — Nigeria joins 26 other African nations in a battle for medals across 21 sports in nine buzzing venues from November 7 to 21.
For Nigeria, this is more than a tournament. It’s a mission.
According to Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Games are part of Nigeria’s grand strategy for global sports dominance ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“The Islamic Solidarity Games represent a great opportunity for Nigeria to showcase our talent on the global stage,” Olopade declared. “This is a stepping stone toward Los Angeles 2028 and our athletes are ready to shine.”
Nigeria’s athletes will compete in seven sports, athletics has the lion share:
• Athletics
• Boxing
• Para Athletics
• Para Powerlifting
• Taekwondo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling with boxing leading the early medal chase.
Beyond the medals, the NSC is using the Games as a testing ground for logistics and organizational excellence ahead of the 2026 National Sports Festival, ensuring Nigeria remains a continental powerhouse both on and off the field.
To date, Nigeria has won 11 medals at the Islamic Solidarity Games, including 3 gold, 6 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
Elsewhere, Algeria arrives in Riyadh with the largest African contingent with 117 athletes while Egypt follows closely with 101 and Mali will be represented by just 2 athletes out of the 844 from Africa.
Nigeria’s neighbours Benin Republic, Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic will all be participating at the Games – Cameron’s 51 man team is the biggest among them.
Morocco, never one to shy from the spotlight, has sent 82 athletes with a clear mission: to build on its stellar 2022 performance in Konya, Türkiye, where it bagged 15 gold, 13 silver, and 34 bronze medals.
At a rousing send-off on October 26, Morocco’s Olympic Committee charged its stars to “chase excellence, embody unity, and bring home the glory.”
In total, 3,500 athletes from 57 nations will light up Riyadh, competing in 21 sports and three para events — a celebration of shared unity, friendship, and fierce athletic pride.
From the mat to the track, from the ring to the roar of the crowd, Africa is ready to make its mark. And for Team Nigeria, the Solidarity Games aren’t just another contest — they’re the beginning of a new Olympic dream.
Riyadh awaits. Nigeria is ready.
All 57 members of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation will be present at the Games.
PARTICIPATING NATIONAL COMMITTEES – AFRICA
Algeria – 117
Benin – 7
Burkina Faso – 17
Cameroon – 51
Chad – 6
Comoros – 6
Côte d’Ivoire – 28
Djibouti – 17
Egypt – 101
Gabon – 9
The Gambia – 16
Guinea – 31
Guinea-Bissau – 4
Libya – 46
Mali – 2
Mauritania – 11
Morocco – 82
Mozambique – 8
Niger – 30
Nigeria – 35
Senegal – 23
Sierra Leone – 45
Somalia – 6
Sudan – 27
Togo – 10
Tunisia – 51
Uganda – 59
Number of athletes 844
Meanwhile, this is Team Nigeria’s Provisional athletics roster for Solidarity Games
MEN
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
Enoch Adegoke
Chidera Ezeakor
James Emmanuel
Caleb John
Ezekiel Asuquo
David Akhalu
Gafari Badmus
Afoke Oshasha
Wisdom Great Musa
Samuel Kure
WOMEN
Anita Enaruna
Chioma Nweke
Iyanuoluwa Bada
Oluebube Ezechukwu.
Comfort James
Patience Okon George
Divine Oladipo
Oyesade Olatoye
Victoria Kparika
Temitope Ademola
Obiageri Amaechi
Maria Omokwe
Onyekwere-Lyons
By Maxwell Kumoye
