Lagos City will host the whole of Africa next month, after the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) released a joint statement with the Nigerian Ministry of Youth & Sports, unveiling the country as the next host of the African Senior Athletics Championships which will take place from June 23-27.
The 22nd championships was in jeopardy when initial hosts, Algeria, backed put from hosting the competition in their country, citing health concerns as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic and requested for it to be postponed.
Three countries: Tunisia, Zambia and Nigeria stepped in to remedy the situation, each bidding to host the competition. However, Nigeria got the nod ahead of other countries to host the competition at the Teslim Balogun stadium in Surulere.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Confederation of African Athletics, are fully committed and working in synergy towards the delivery of a world-class Championships” read a statement released by the CAA president, Hamad Kalkaba.
“In the coming days, more comprehensive details regarding the successful hosting of the Championships in Lagos, Nigeria, will be made public. ”
The African championships is a good ranking tool for athletes who are yet to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympics, to secure big points that will put them in a good position to qualify for the Games even if they don’t hit automatic qualification.
Nigeria will be hosting the African Championships for the second consecutive time, after hosting the last edition three years ago in Asaba. According to the proposed plan from the Nigerian ministry of Sports, both the National Stadium opposite Teslim Balogun stadium, and the Sports complex of the Yaba College of Education will play some part as venue for the Championships.
