CAA U18/U20 ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

The ancient city of Abeokuta is set to host the 3rd edition of the African U18/U20 Athletics Championship from July 16 to 20 at the MKO Abiola International Stadium.

The event will bring together some of the continent’s brightest young talents across five action-packed days of track and field competition. Below is a day-by-day preview of key events fans and stakeholders can look forward to.

The competition kicks off on the afternoon of Day 1 with U18 athletes taking to the track and field.

Events on the lineup include the U18 100m heats, 1500m final, high jump final, and triple jump final. Fans can also expect to see action in the 400m, 3,000m, and 10,000m events across categories.

The opening session sets the tone for a thrilling championship.

Day 2 will be filled with energy and intensity. The morning session features the 110m hurdles heats, long jump qualifications, and the 400m finals for U18 and U20 athletes.

 The 100m semi-finals for all age groups will also take place in the morning. In the afternoon, attention will shift to the finals of the 100m (U18 and U20), the 1500m final (U20 men and women), and the 400m semifinals.

The women’s discus final is also scheduled, alongside several other track and field contests.

Thursday (day 3) morning will showcase the 400m finals for U18 boys and girls, along with pole vault and hammer throw events for both U18 and U20 divisions.

The afternoon session will witness more decisive contests, including the U18 100m hurdles final, the javelin throw, the U20 high jump final, and the U20 men’s 400m final. The 4x100m men’s relay heats for the U20 category will also take place, along with other sprint and field events.

The penultimate day (4) opens with the 200m and 800m heats for U18 and U20 boys and girls in the morning.

 In the afternoon, the semi-finals of the 200m events across categories will follow. One of the highlights of the day will be the 5,000m final, while relay fans can enjoy the highly anticipated 4x100m finals for U20 men and women.

The competition will continue with a host of technical events that underline the championship’s depth.

The grand finale begins on day 5 with field events including the discus and javelin throws for U18 and U20 divisions and the long jump for U18 and U20 women.

The afternoon session, which will mark the conclusion of the championship, will be headlined by the 200m finals for men and women across both age categories, the U20 men’s long jump final, the 800m finals for both genders, and the 4x400m relay finals.

 The curtain will fall with closing ceremonies and final medal presentations, capping off what promises to be an unforgettable week of African youth athletics.

The 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championship is proudly hosted in Nigeria and organized by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) in partnership with the National Sports Commission, Ogun State Government, and key sponsors such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Bank of Industry (BOI), and LEDCO Limited.

*Team Nigeria Unveils Official Squad for 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championship*Team Nigeria has officially released its squad list ahead of the highly anticipated 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championship set to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, from July 16–20.

A total of 96 athletes will don the green-and-white colors across both categories.

The U18 girls’ team will feature 18 athletes, while 24 female athletes will compete in the U20 women’s division.

 The U20 men’s team leads the pack in numbers with 30 athletes, while 24 athletes will fly Nigeria’s flag in the U18 boys’ events.

The team is supported by a strong technical and backroom unit, including 22 coaches, 8 medical personnel, and 8 additional staff comprising a team psychologist, physiotherapists, a team secretary, media personnel, and logistics coordinators.

As part of final preparations, Nigeria’s sprint relay team of Lucy Nwankwo, Success Oyibu, Anita Itohan, and Chika Bakwunye joined forces at the recent AFN/Dynamic Athletics Meet, using the opportunity to sharpen their baton exchanges and race coordination ahead of the continental championship.

Speaking ahead of the event, officials noted that all athletes have undergone rigorous training camps and performance assessments, with the goal of maintaining Nigeria’s dominance on the continental stage.

With the championship just days away, expectations are high as Nigeria prepares to host over 40 countries at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.

Team Nigeria will be looking to deliver a strong showing on home soil and inspire the next generation of athletic stars.