In a press release made available to Made In Africa Sport, this landmark event will be the largest para table tennis competition in the city, reinforcing the organiser’s dedication to promoting inclusivity in sports.

The competition will feature 32 top-tier para-athletes—16 men and 16 women—competing in a knockout format, culminating in the crowning of the top three players in both categories.

DunsinSports Para Table Tennis Tournament
Join us in July 2025 for the largest para table tennis event in the city of Lagos!

32 athletes (16 men, 16 women) will compete for the top spots in a knockout format. #ParaTableTennis #SportsForAll pic.twitter.com/2jOyTHG6zM

— Dunsin Sports (@dunsinsports) January 31, 2025

This event aims to showcase the talent of para-athletes and raise awareness of the importance of accessible and adaptive sports for all.

“DunsinSports is calling on well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations, and stakeholders to partner with us in advancing the cause of sports inclusivity. Your support will go a long way in providing necessary resources, enhancing visibility, and fostering an enabling environment for para-athletes to thrive.” the statement reads.

DunsinSports is an organisation dedicated to promoting the development of PWDs in sports, ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, has access to the transformative power of sports.

The post DunsinSports to host largest para table tennis competition in Lagos appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

This display of talent comes on the heels of a streak that extended from the recent continental championship in Lagos, Nigeria, to the home soil in Cape Coast delivers consistent success which underscores the depth of talent within the Ghanaian university system and the dedication of these young student-athletes.

Looking ahead, the focus now shifts towards international competition, the 2025 FISU Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. With such a strong foundation and a consistent track record of success, Ghanaian universities have the potential to make an impact on the global stage.

“Participation in world-class competitions will provide invaluable experience and exposure, allowing these athletes to hone their skills against the best in the world.” University of Ghana Hockey team captain, Richard Adjei muttered on their hopes of participating in FISU Games.

The Medal Standings: Celebrating the Top 5 Universities at the Ghana Universities Games

UCC wins 2024 GUSA Games.

1st UCC

2nd UG

3rd UEW

4th KNUST

5th UDS

6TH UNER

7th SDD-UBIDS

8th GCTU, AAMUSTED and UHAS

11th UniMAC, CKT-UTAS, UPSA, UMAT and UESD pic.twitter.com/FWbbxMaItr

— University of Cape Coast (UCC) (@UCCGH_Official) January 17, 2025

1. University of Cape Coast (UCC)

Indeed, the glory of the coast did not depart from the host after gaining the top place in the game’s ranking, with 18 gold, 18 silver, and 17 bronze medals, making it the first time in ten years that a university has hosted and won the games.

The University picked up seven trophies from basketball (male and female), hockey (female), netball (female), volleyball (male and female) and tennis (male).

2. University of Ghana, Legon (UG)

Team UG maintained its dominance after winning the overall best team in athletics, although it placed second to the host with 15 gold, 12 silver, and 15 bronze medals to place second on the table.

They won five trophies in athletics (male and female), beach volleyball (male), goal ball (female), and hockey (male).

3. University of Education, Winneba (UEW)

The defending champions, University of Education, Winneba (UEW) also won seven trophies from beach volleyball (female), goalball (male) handball (male and female), badminton (male and female), and table tennis (female).

They finished third with 14 gold, 18 silver, and nine bronze medals and will be hoping to reclaim their crown on home soil as the next host of the games.

4. Kwame University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Team KNUST, the evergreen force to reckon with in the history of the games, took the fourth position with 14 gold, 13 silver, and nine bronze medals, for a total of 36 medals.

Tracy Ampah, a second-year student at KNUST, shone brightly as a standout performer, winning the women’s singles title at the games to further solidify her position as both Ghanaian and African Champion after her impressive victory in the women’s singles event at the FASU Games in Lagos, which took place late in 2014.

She expressed her gratitude and excitement to Made In Africa Sport and highlighted her ambition to represent Ghana at the World University Games in Germany, expressing her hope to replicate her success on a larger stage.

“I’m humbled,” Tracy commented. “Winning the Ghana Universities Games tennis women’s singles is a dream come true.”

“As a national and African university champion, I aspire to represent Ghana at the World University Games in July and hope to carry similar results at the higher stage.” she concluded.

5. University of Development Studies (UDS)

Despite being favoured to win the men’s football title, Africa University’s top-ranked team set to represent the continent at the University Football World Cup suffered a semi-final loss to the host, University of Cape Coast.

However, joy was restored when their women’s football team emerged as champions after securing a convincing 5-1 victory over UEW in the women’s final.

Although the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) finished 6th in the overall rankings, Lady Portia Aboagye made history by winning the school’s only gold medal at the 28th edition of the games. Her outstanding performance came in the highly competitive 800m race and also placed third for a bronze medal in the 400m race.

What’s next

For most student-athletes, it is time to engage the Ghana Universities Sports Association to understand what it will take to be on the national team, which will be representing the nation at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.

Also, the West Africa University Games (WAUG), which are slated less than two months after in September. This zonal game is set to be hosted by the University of Ghana before the next edition of the GUSA Games takes place in January 2026 and hosted by the University of Winneba.

The post GUSA 2024: Ghana’s student-athletes shine ahead of 2025 FISU Games in Germany appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

The 2024 Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games is set to be hosted by the University of Cape Coast from January 3 to 18, 2025.

In its 28th edition, the biennial games is themed “Oguaa Suapon Ɔkɔrɛ,” which is somewhat translated to inspire both athletes and supporters to cheer and celebrate the unified victories together. It resonates with students, athletes, and universities alike, emphasising the importance of teamwork, cooperation, mutual respect, and fair play.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the host, University of Cape Coast, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, expanded on the theme. He underscored the pivotal role sports play in shaping the minds of individuals and the entire nation.

“Through university sports, we can create a robust framework that integrates athletic prowess with academic achievement, producing well-rounded individuals ready to contribute to the nation’s progress,” he said.

He also added that through university sports, we can create a robust framework that integrates athletic prowess with academic achievement, producing well-rounded individuals ready to contribute to the nation’s progress.

In the remarks of Shaibu Tanko, the President of the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) at the launch of the games, he expressed gratitude to UCC for hosting the 2024 GUSA Games.

“We believe in your capacity to not only deliver and elevate the GUSA experience but also set a new benchmark for years to come,” Tanko said. “Together, let us make these games a truly remarkable celebration of sportsmanship, talent, and unity—a showcase of what we can achieve when we come together with purpose and passion.”

This year’s edition of the GUSA Games brings together nine participating schools across 13 sporting disciplines. Student-athletes will compete in athletics, badminton, volleyball, football, basketball, hockey, handball, netball, tennis, beach volleyball, goalball, and table tennis.

The historical evolution of GUSA and its impact on university sports in Ghana

The idea to form the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA) was birthed in 1965, when the University of Ghana successfully held a bilateral game with the University of Ibadan in 1964, helping to birth the national-level games, bringing to existence the Ghana Universities Sports Association Games (GUSA) and Nigeria Universities Sports Association Games (NUGA), respectively. 

Later, three universities participated in the maiden West Africa University Games (WAUG), hosted again by the University of Ghana. 

Since its inception, the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) has undergone expansion, transforming from a modest trio of public universities to a network of fifteen member institutions. This growth has been marked by a deliberate effort to embrace diversity, with both public and private universities now represented within the association.

A notable milestone in this journey was the 2013 constitutional amendment, which officially opened GUSA’s doors to private universities, promoting a culture of inclusivity, unity, and healthy competition across Ghana’s higher education landscape.

Remaining vibrant to this day, the Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) continues to drive its mission through two primary objectives: hosting biennial games that showcase the athletic prowess of Ghana’s tertiary institutions and representing the nation in esteemed international competitions, including the Unity Games, West African University Games (WAUG), Federation of African University Sports (FASU), and International University Sports Federation (FISU).

As GUSA expands its reach, the vision remains steadfast: to unite tertiary institutions across Ghana and build a culture where sports are an integral part of student life while promoting institutional collaboration and national pride.

The cradle of Ghana’s international athletic stars

The numbers tell a story in Ghana. The majority of athletes who have represented the country internationally, excluding football and para-games, have been champions of school sports.

Ghana's 4×100 men's relay team have secured a spot at the upcoming Paris Olympics after placing first in the heats of the ongoing World Athletics Relay in the Bahamas.#OnuaTV #OnuaSports pic.twitter.com/B1IKrq6JKW

— #OnuaTV (@OnuaTV) June 25, 2024

This underscores school sports’ vital role in identifying and nurturing athletic talent. When Joseph Paul Amoah stormed on the track of Winneba for GUSA Games 2016 and showed flashes in UDS two years later, it was visible to the blind that he was destined to compete beyond the shores of KNUST.

He grew into an unstoppable force, winning gold medals at the African Games in 2019 and 2024 while also becoming the first Ghanaian to win a medal in the 200m at the Commonwealth Games in 48 years when he finished third behind Trinidad’s Jereem Richards and Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes in Birmingham 2022.

Among his medal-winning quartet at the 2024 African Games was Benjamin Azamati, who won the 100m on home soil for the University of Ghana in Legon in the GUSA Games 2020. Alongside Amoah, Azamati teamed up with his fellow GUSA 2020 gold medallist, Issac Botsio from the University of Ghana, and Ibrahim Fuseni from KNUST to fly Ghana’s flag higher at the 2024 World Athletics Relay in the Bahamas by qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics when they finished second in the Olympic qualifying round 4x100m relay.

The GUSA Games has continued to witness an exodus of stars making waves even before leaving the shores of their campus. A trio of University of Ghana students, James Dadzie, Solomon Kweku Hammond, Saminu Abdul Hammond, and Barnabas Agerh of the University of Developmental Studies, dominated the scenes at the Annual International Invitational Relay event in Benin City, Nigeria.

They won four medals in the 4x100m relay, 4x100m mixed relay, 400m, and 200m. Saminu further participated in the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics and qualified for the semifinals after finishing third behind Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs and Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi in round 1 heat 5.

While it’s exhausting to attempt to name-drop every personality who rose to national fame through the GUSA, let’s say that Ghana’s sports history is filled with athletes who have ‘run’ the gamut, ‘kicked’ their way to success, and ‘spiked’ their competition at the GUSA Games.

From track and field to football and beyond, Ghana’s sporting heroes truly ‘scored’ big time, launching their careers from this very platform. Instead of creating an exhaustive (and exhausting!) list, we’ll focus on celebrating the spirit of excellence that continues to inspire us all.

The post 2024 GUSA Games: UCC sets stage to showcase Ghana’s hub for university sporting talent appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

The festival, in its 22nd edition, is scheduled to take place from 12 to 25 January 2025 in Ogun State, Nigeria.

In a formal communication addressed to the Directors-General and Directors of Sports of all states, obtained by Made In Africa Sport, the Ministry outlined a total of 29 compulsory sports and seven optional sports, bringing the total to 36 sports that will feature at the showpiece event.

The festival, which is set to attract athletes from across the country, will see participants compete in disciplines ranging from athletics and football to deaf sports and para-athletics.

Among the compulsory sports confirmed for the Games are athletics, basketball, football, weightlifting, wrestling, and para sports such as para powerlifting and para table tennis.

Notably, deaf sports will also feature, with participants competing in a selection of no more than three disciplines. Other key sports include the traditional Nigerian sport Dambe, alongside international favourites like taekwondo, gymnastics, and volleyball (indoor).

In addition to the compulsory list, the Ministry has also approved seven optional sports: shooting, golf, darts, ayo, cricket, karate (all styles), and wheelchair basketball. These sports will allow states to tailor their participation based on available talent and resources.

The full list of compulsory sports for the festival includes:

1. Athletics

2. Aquatics

3. Badminton

4. Basketball

5. Beach Volleyball

6. Boxing

7. Chess

8. Cycling

9. Deaf Sports (limited to three disciplines)

10. Football

11. Gymnastics

12. Handball

13. Hockey

14. Judo

15. Karate

16. Kickboxing

17. Kung-Fu

18. Para Athletics

19. Para Powerlifting

20. Para Table Tennis

21. Scrabble

22. Squash

23. Table Tennis

24. Taekwondo

25. Tennis

26. Traditional Sports (Dambe)

27. Volleyball (Indoor)

28. Weightlifting

29. Wrestling

The optional sports are as follows:

1. Shooting

2. Golf

3. Darts

4. Ayo

5. Cricket

6. Karate (All styles)

7. Wheelchair Basketball

Ogun State gears up for 2024 National Sports Festival with major renovations

As Ogun State prepares to host the 2024 Gateway Games, the state government has commenced reconstruction and renovation works on two major sporting complexes: the MKO Abiola International Stadium and the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta.

Following an inspection of the facilities, Ogun State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, assured the public that the ongoing renovation works would be completed on schedule. The facilities will be tested ahead of the festival, which will bring together top athletes from across Nigeria.

Key improvements include the scraping of the main stadium pitch, the removal of tartan tracks, and upgrades to the roofing of the indoor hall at the Alake Sports Centre. The VIP section of the MKO Abiola Stadium is also set for expansion, while new facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and handball courts, are under construction.

Hon. Isiaka emphasised the Ogun State Government’s commitment to not only developing youth and sports programmes but also creating platforms to discover and nurture young athletes. He noted that the festival would serve as a launchpad for the next generation of talent and reinforce the state’s reputation for producing elite athletes.

The commissioner called on corporate organisations and private individuals to partner with the government in making the festival a success, stating that the event presents an opportunity for the state to showcase its talent, potential, and hospitality. He reiterated that the state’s sports facilities would be of top international standards, capable of hosting future national and international events.

The post Ministry releases 36 sports for 2024 National Sports Festival appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

(ATTF Media) – Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi has been unanimously elected as the 6th President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) during the Elective Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Oshodi becomes the second Nigerian to lead the continental body, following Engr. Segun George, who served from 1988 to 1996.

Oshodi, currently the Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), will succeed Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy, who completed three terms (2010-2024) as ATTF President.

https://twitter.com/phatill/status/1846169919110459795?s=46

The 40-member electorate’s unanimous support for Oshodi reflects overwhelming delegate confidence in his leadership for the next four years. With this election, Oshodi stands as the only Nigerian heading a continental sports organisation.

Cameroon‘s Alfred Bagueka was also unanimously elected as the Deputy President of the ATTF. Additionally, Germain Karou and Andrew Mudibo were elected as Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs) for Technical and Development, respectively.

The positions for EVP Administration, Finance, Media/PR, and Marketing saw keen competition among candidates from Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Sudan, Ethiopia, Mauritania, and Uganda. For EVP Marketing, Ghana‘s Mawuko Afadzinu triumphed over Uganda’s Robert Jjagwe with 22 votes to 18.

Ethiopia’s Tesfaye Bizane won EVP Media/PR with 29 votes. South Africa’s Hajera Kajee secured EVP Finance with 20 votes, and Egypt’s Moataz Ashour won EVP Administration with 32 votes.

The Regional Vice Presidents elected include Benin Republic’s Ferdinand Sounou (West), Congo’s Christian Wonga (Central), Libya’s Gallel Amadeddin (North), South Africa’s Joe Carrim (South), and Djibouti‘s Mohmoud Omir (East).

From the 15 candidates that contested for the ITTF Council, outgoing ATTF President Khaled El-Salhy joined seven others to secure continental tickets to the world body.

Joining El-Salhy in the eight-member council are Nigeria’s Olabanji Oladapo, Botswana’s Kudzanani Motswagole, Benin Republic’s Ferdinand Sounou, Cameroon’s Alfred Bagueka, South Africa’s Joe Carrim, Tunisia’s Jalem Zayati, and Uganda’s Thomas Kiggundu.

The post Nigeria’s Wahid Enitan Oshodi elected 6th president of African Table Tennis Federation appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

The nation’s contingent of five universities won 25 gold medals, surpassing the 15 they won in the Kenyatta 2022 games with three universities.

Only the host country, Nigeria (33) and Angola (7) had more universities at the 2024 games than Ghana‘s five and they finished third on the medal table with 25 gold behind Nigeria (85 gold) and Egypt (46 gold).

Of all the five universities, only Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) failed to win a medal after showing up late with contingents for just the basketball event alone. University of Ghana (UG) racked up 32 medals, a staggering 46% of Ghana’s total medals in the games while the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) followed with 13 medals each with the University for Development Studies (UDS) completing the set with 11 medals.

FASU 2024 Ghana Institutional Breakdown: How they fared

• University of Ghana

With 19 medals won in the last edition of the games in 2022 coming from athletics, tennis and table tennis, the University of Ghana was determined to take the next step further in Lagos by fielding athletes in six sports; football, tennis, badminton, swimming, volleyball and athletics.

This yielded positive results for them, most notably in Athletics, where they won 8 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze for a total of 22 medals, which doesn’t just surpass their entire medal for the 2022 games but also twice as much as any other institution that participated in the 2024 athletics event.

Morris Bazaa Taofic and Kwaku Williams were at the heart of the team, with Taofic winning a gold medal in the 1500m and 800m men’s event while Williams won the 200m men’s event and also the 4x100m men’s gold as well as a silver medal in the 4x400m men’s event.

As a student-athlete, Taofic acknowledges the importance of the guidance and resources provided by the University of Ghana, crediting them for their influence in shaping his athletic journey.

“I am honoured to win these [800m and 1500m] gold medals,” Taofic stated. “I am super grateful to the University of Ghana Sports Directorate for the contribution in helping me discover this talent of mine.”

The institution’s student sports council secretary, Oyeyoni Oyewale Johnson also took the field and won the gold medal in the men’s triple jump to join other eight colleagues who delivered gold medals in the athletics discipline.

The team won a total of 9 gold, 10 silver and 14 bronze medals to become the country’s flagship institution and ranked 4th on the overall medal table, six places better than their 10th position in Kenyatta 2022 games.

• University of Development Studies

If there’s another name for perseverance, it should be “University for Development Studies (UDS).” The institution travelled over 1,000 kilometres from the northern part of Ghana with all their contingents by road down to Lagos to compete in the 2024 FASU Games.

Competing in only two sports, UDS narrowed their participation to football and athletics as they focused solely on medal-winning events.

The institution registered nine athletes for 13 athletics events, and seven of them won 17 medals, with 10 of those medals being gold.

Selina Awimpoka won the high jump and long jump women’s gold, with the high jump win coming against her teammate, Grace Aduntira who settled for silver and later finished ahead of the pack to win gold in both women’s 400m and 400m hurdles.

In the men’s cadre, Musah Amdu won the 110m hurdle and Frank Addo won the 400m men’s gold with both of them also being part of the quartet that delivered gold alongside Eric Annobil and Charles Nyame in the 4x400m men’s event.

This surpassed their feat in Kenyatta where they won only 3 golds in athletics, and that was not the only opened Kenyatta wound they were looking to heal. 

They missed out on the coveted football gold medal in Kenyatta 2022 games, having to settle for bronze and are determined to take two leaps further in the 11th edition of the continental games.

They started on a strong foot and finished with the best performance one could ever hope for, defeating the host, University of Lagos 3-0 on home turf and winning the eluded football gold medal.

With the result, they will represent Africa at the FISU University Football World Cup in 2025, becoming the first ever Ghanaian school, male or female, to achieve such a feat.

A notable breakout star from Tamale Boys was Ezedeen Alhassan, after having a slow start to the tournament, he opened his scoring account with a goal against Nkumba University in the third game and added a hattrick against the University of Jos before scoring a brace to become the highest goalscorer in the tournament with six goals.

Alhassan was hailed and called “Messiah” among fans and his teammates after his brace in the final. The 20-year-old midfielder stood after the final whistle with teary eyes, reminiscing about his team’s unbelievable success.

“I started this tournament as a reserve player, but I’m concluding it with six goals,” Alhassan said, his voice trembling. “I thank God for this incredible turnaround. My teammates’ support throughout the tournament has been invaluable.”

Overcoming his emotions, Alhassan struggled to express his feelings. “I’m speechless; it’s an incredibly emotional moment.”

Alhassan’s voice echoed with conviction as he recounted UDS’ arduous journey to Lagos, Nigeria. “This trip wasn’t about pleasure; it was about perseverance.”

“What I’ve been through before we came to this tournament wasn’t easy. There was a lot of fatigue because we travelled from the Northern part of Ghana. We had to first go to the Southern part of Ghana before we came to Lagos. So, there was a lot of fatigue coming here.”

The 400 level basic education student revealed they faced a daunting 444-kilometre, 13-hour road trip from Tamale to Accra, only to embark on another exhausting 600-kilometre, 18-hour journey to Lagos. “We spent over a day on the road, but our focus never wavered.”

• University of Cape Coast

It seemed as though Ghanaian universities had orchestrated a unified mission to overhaul the athletics medals, and if taken to court, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) would undoubtedly be found guilty as their entry list alone provides overwhelming evidence of intent. 

After missing the previous edition of the FASU Games, UCC returned to Lagos with a focused strategy, fielding 10 athletes in a single sport: athletics.

Eight of the 10 athletes made a podium finish, with Rexford Bugase, Baatah Dramani, Osburn Turkson, Mariam Aidoo, and Belinda Owusu winning gold in men’s discus, men’s shot put, men’s 400m hurdles, women’s 1500m, and women’s javelin, respectively, to give the institution 5 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze for a total 13 medals and earn seventh place finish.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Host of the last Ghana University Sports Association Games (GUSA 2022), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), left the shores of Kumasi for Lagos to compete in FASU Games after missing out on the last event, hoping to ride on the good run of form they had during the 2023 West African University Games (WAUG) in Nigeria back in December.

Taking centre stage for them was, Janet Mensah who became the shining light and arguably one of the MVPs of the FASU 2024 Games. On day one of the athletics event, she crossed the finish line in 12.18s to win the gold medal in the 100m women’s final and become the fastest female student on the continent.

In the evening session, Mensah proved that her achievement earlier in the day was not a fluke and capped up an unforgettable day with a win in the 200m women’s final for a sprint double.

She then leads Team KNUST’s quartet to a first-place finish in the 4x100m mixed relay, thereby coming out of the game as the only athlete, male or female, with a hat-trick of gold across all athletics events.

Tracy Ampah added one more gold medal for the school to raise their total to 4 gold and overall 13 medals to seal the 10th position when the 17-year-old clinched the tennis singles title.

Commenting on the achievement, Doku Doreen, the General Sport Secretary of the KNUST Student Sports Council, said, “It was incredibly inspiring to witness Tracy’s victory in the tennis singles. Her dedication, hard work, and determination really paid off, and it’s a proud moment for all of us.” 

“As for her future, I see great potential in her. With continued support and the right opportunities, she could excel even further and make a significant mark in both national and international tennis. Her win is just the beginning of what could be a remarkable career.’ he concluded.

Ghana Communication Technology University

In a historic first, Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) made its debut at the FASU Games, competing solely in basketball, mysteriously.

The basketball event of the 2024 FASU Games kicked off as scheduled with the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), Nile University, and Université Général Lansana Conté de Sonfonia (UGLCS) as the only four entrants on Sunday, 22 September 2024.

After playing completing three rounds of games in the round-robin format, GCTU arrived from Ghana and entered the competition after a successful appeal their players took to the court instantly and lost their opening game by over half points, 40-81 to UGLCS, followed by another  27-63 loss to Nile to exit the competition.

What’s next?

The impressive performance of Ghanaian universities at FASU 2024 demonstrates the nation’s burgeoning sporting talent and potential for future success. With 23 gold medals out of a possible 34 won in athletics, the country has established bragging rights as the home of track and field events. 

More remarkably, the four institutions from the country that participated in athletics occupied the first to fourth positions, and Ghana, as a single nation, won more medals in athletics (55) than the combined total of the other 10 countries that participated (47).

These athletes will return to the field and courts to compete as the University of Cape Coast (UCC) will host the 2024 GUSA Games from 28 December 2024 to 15 January 2025. The GUSA Games will also serve as a preparatory ground for the University for Development Studies in their preparation for the 2025 FISU University Football World Cup in Dalian, China, and for the 2025 Summer World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, to be held in July 2025.

The post FASU 2024 Review: How Ghana sprints to glory to become Africa’s athletics powerhouse appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

The National Youth Games, an initiative of the National Sports Commission, began in 2013 to provide a platform for early talent identification and development.

Athletes aged under 15 will compete in 36 sports at the multisport event, which runs from Thursday, 12 September 2024, to Thursday, 19 September 2024, with Asaba retaining hosting rights after successfully hosting the 2023 edition.

Team Ogun has sent over 300 delegates and officials to the event of which 233 that traveled with the contingents are athletes aiming to compete across 28 sports.

The state will compete in both disciplines of handball, with 30 athletes on the court, and 21 in athletics on the track and field.

The team includes 14 athletes for cricket, 13 for rugby, 11 for deaf athletics, and 10 athletes each for abula, chess, and gymnastics. There are 8 athletes each for badminton, squash, table tennis, and tennis.

Golf and scrabble have 7 athletes each; boxing, swimming, and wrestling have 6 athletes each; ayo, cycling, darts, judo, karate, shooting, and weightlifting each have 5 athletes; para athletics, para table tennis, and kickboxing each have 4 athletes; and kungfu has 3 fighters.

The athletes will be aiming for a podium finish for the Gateway State after a less-than-impressive performance in the previous two editions in Ilorin and Asaba.

In 2021, Ogun State finished in eighth place with a haul of 45 medals, and seventh place in 2023 with 32 medals, an improvement due to an increase in gold medals won, rising from eight to eleven.

During the send-off for the athletes in Abeokuta, the state’s commissioner for sports development, Honourable Wasiu Isiaka, urged them to give their best performances at the games while remaining vigilant and mindful of their surroundings. He assured the athletes of full support throughout and beyond the competition.

Isiaka also called on the officials and coaches to prioritise the well-being and security of the athletes, emphasising the need to verify their eligibility to avoid any disqualifications that could bring embarrassment to the state.

NYG 2024 Updates

As the excitement surrounding the 8th National Youth Games continues to build, Made In Africa Sport remains your ultimate source for all the latest news, medal ranking and updates. Stay glued to our social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and visit our website regularly at madeinafricasport.com for:

• Detailed reports: Get in-depth coverage of all the competitions, including exclusive interviews with athletes, coaches, and officials.
• Exclusive content: Enjoy behind-the-scenes stories, insightful analysis, and engaging multimedia features.
• Latest news: Stay ahead of the curve with medal alerts, breaking news, updates on athlete performances, and all the action from the Games.

Don’t miss a single moment of the NYG 2024! Make Made In Africa Sport your go-to platform for all things Africa Sports.

The post Team Ogun departs for National Youth Games with over 300 delegates, targets improved medal haul appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

In the 2023 edition held in Agadir, Morocco, the Nigerian contingent competed with support from Friends of Table Tennis, who funded their trip. However, despite qualifying for the 2023 ITTF World Youth Championships, the team could not attend after the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) failed to secure necessary support from the Federal Ministry of Sports Development.

Botswana is hosting the continent’s top young players for the first time in African table tennis history. The championships, which began on Monday, July 15, are taking place at Botho University Hall in Gaborone.

We're well at home at the Botho University in Gaborone. #ITTFAYC24 pic.twitter.com/EIRJuynoXN

— ITTF-Africa (@ITTFAfrica) July 16, 2024

Motswagole Kudzanani, President of the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA), emphasized that hosting the tournament would lead to overall improvement for table tennis in the region. He said, “Hosting provides a platform to build our capacity and expose our athletes to international standards. It also increases our brand visibility, showcases our capabilities, and helps us identify areas for growth.”

This year’s championships feature a greater number of participating nations compared to the 2023 edition. Participating countries include Botswana, Congo DRC, Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, Benin Republic, Guinea, Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, Rwanda, Tunisia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Additionally, the seven-day continental championships serve as African qualifiers for the 2024 ITTF World Youth Championships scheduled for November in Helsingborg, Sweden.

The post 2024 ITTF Africa Youth Championships: Nigeria’s no-show raises eyebrows as continent converges on Botswana appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Aruna, who made history as the first African to reach the quarterfinals of the table tennis event at the Olympic Games, currently holds the 19th world ranking, while Assar, who is the second African to reach the quarterfinals, is rated 22nd in the world.

The official seedings for the Games will be based on the 16th July ITTF World Rankings, revealing potential matchups that promise excitement for fans. The two African stars will be among the top seeds and are expected to kick off their campaign from the second round (round of 64) of the tournament on 28th July at the South Paris Arena.

All eyes will be on Aruna and Assar, with the Nigerian making his fourth Olympic Games appearance as he contends for a podium finish in Paris. Egypt’s Assar, who matched Aruna’s quarterfinal record at Tokyo 2020, is another player to watch out for in Paris. Assar joins Mohamed El-Beiali as Egypt’s representatives in the Men’s Singles. Meanwhile, Dina Meshref and Hana Goda will compete in the Women’s Singles event.

For the team event, the African champions have selected Youssef Abdel-Aziz to join Assar and El-Beiali in the men’s squad. Mariam Alhodaby will team up with Meshref and Goda for the women’s team event in Paris. Meshref and Assar will also compete in the Mixed Doubles event, which makes its second appearance in Paris after debuting at Tokyo 2020.

Joining Aruna in the Men’s Singles event is his compatriot, Olajide Omotayo. Other African players include Mehdi Bouloussa of Algeria and Ibrahima Diaw of Senegal. Madagascar‘s Fabio Rakotoarimanana will make history as the first player from the island nation to compete in the table tennis event at the Olympic Games. Saheed Idowu of Congo Brazzaville secured a Tripartite Invitation to participate in Paris.

In the Women’s Singles, Nigeria’s duo of Offiong Edem and Fatimo Bello, along with Cameroon‘s Sarah Hanffou and Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi, complete the continent’s contingent in Paris.

The 10th Olympic appearance of table tennis promises an exciting blend of experience and youthful exuberance. The recent heroics of the French team, including the men’s team’s silver medal and the women’s team’s bronze at the ITTF World Championships Finals Busan 2024, have ignited anticipation in Paris.

The rise of young stars like the Lebrun brothers (Félix and Alexis) and Prithika Pavade has captivated the Parisian imagination. Fans eagerly await their hometown heroes’ pursuit of Olympic glory on home soil.

Beyond French flair, legendary player Ma Long of China bids farewell to the Olympics after Paris, and India makes its debut in the team events. A new Men’s Singles champion will emerge, while the Women’s Singles features a potential clash of titans as China’s Chen Meng defends her crown against top seed and compatriot Sun Yingsha.

Lastly, all eyes turn to Timo Boll, the iconic German player concluding his glittering 20-year career in the sport.

The post Aruna, Assar among top table tennis seeds for Paris 2024 Olympic Games appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Also, Aruna’s quest to garner more points ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France has pitted him against home-boy Frane Kojic in the first round of the men’s singles at the 2024 WTT Contender Zagreb taking place in Serbia.

Aruna, who started his rise in the ranking in Week 22 after his round of 16 finish at the Saudi Smash last month, had his appeal accepted by the ITTF Executive Board for his World Table Tennis Championships points to be restored, prompting his movement to 16th place in the latest ranking.

However, Aruna awaits formal confirmation from ITTF for his qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on 11 June when the world ranking will be used to determine the final list of players who will join the flight to France’s most populous city, Paris, next month.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Alvaro Robles has become the biggest mover in the ITTF ranking as the Spaniard achieved another career-high ranking. It has been over six years since Robles scored a career-high ranking, starting 2018 at No.37 in the world, and had never been as high since. But with the latest rating, Robles jumped 15 places up the ladder to No.32, shaving five places off his previous record.

This is a phenomenal testament to the stalwart’s commitment to the sport and his recent form, as the 33-year-old has reached the final of two WTT events in 2024, including last week’s WTT Contender Mendoza. Although he lost out on the title in a thrilling seven-game duel with Benedikt Duda of Germany, the new career-high ranking will add further fuel to Robles’ fire to go even higher.

The post Restored points propel Aruna to 16th in ITTF world rankings, faces Kojic in WTT Contender Zagreb appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.