The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has elected Algeria as host of the 4th edition of the combined Under-18 and Under-20 African Athletics Championships in 2027.
CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum disclosed this on Thursday in Abeokuta, where he also provided updates on upcoming continental athletic events.
Malboum said, “We will have the senior championship in Accra, Ghana, in 2026.” “And then, the Under-18 and Under-20 championships will return to Algeria in 2027. Botswana is expected to host the senior championship in 2028.”
He hinted that both Egypt and Ethiopia have expressed interest in hosting future youth championships, although a final decision on those bids will be made in due course.
The CAA is also searching for a new host for the African Cross Country Championships, which has lost prominence at the global level due to Africa’s continued dominance in the sport.
Malboum noted that Algeria was previously granted hosting rights for the U-18 and U-20 championships but had shown limited enthusiasm in the final stages of preparation.
The 2023 edition, originally scheduled to be held in Oran, had to be relocated after Algeria failed to demonstrate strong commitment.
The CAA boss said, “I was in Oran during the ANOCA General Assembly and held discussions with both the Algerian Federation President and the Minister of Sports, but I didn’t feel the level of interest needed to successfully host the event.”
He revealed that Nigeria stepped in as a last-minute host for the 2023 edition, thanks to swift engagement with Nigerian officials.
Malboum said “Fortunately, Mr. Shehu Diko, Chairman of Nigeria’s Sports Commission, was present during that meeting. As a brother, I approached him and asked if Nigeria could take up the challenge within four months, and they delivered.”
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He emphasized that youth competitions such as the U-18 and U-20 championships are critical to Africa’s long-term success in athletics, serving as stepping stones for future Olympic and World Championship contenders.
The CAA president stressed, “These events prepare the future of high-performance athletics in Africa. They are vital to building the pride of the continent on the global stage.”
