The
11th All Africa Games officially begin in Brazzaville on friday 4th , Congo with the
traditional opening ceremony at the 60,000-capacity Stade Municipal de
Kintele in Brazzaville on Friday.
However, the battle for medals started
on Thursday with badminton, boxing, fencing, and volleyball athletes on
duty in the competition in which athletes from 53 countries are vying
for honours alongside their Central African hosts in 22 sports.more....
South Africa won the last edition of the
Games in Maputo, Mozambique four years ago – and they are favourites
for the top spot in Brazzaville. Nigeria came third at Maputo 2011 and
will look to overhaul the South Africans who won the 1995 and 1999
Games.
Egypt,
who have won the 50-year-old competition more than any other country,
are also favourites for the crown alongside Kenya, Tunisia and Algeria.
Brazzaville hosted the maiden edition of
the Games in 1965 – with the United Arab Republic emerging as champions
in the competition in which 2, 500 athletes from 29 countries
participated in the fiesta.
Nigeria, who hosted the second edition
of the Games in Lagos, are expected to feature in no fewer than 18
sports, including athletics, men’s football, women’s football, boxing
and basketball at Brazzaville 2015.
The national Under-23 men’s team will
attempt to win the All Africa Games’ men’s football event for the second
time after they sealed the title on home soil in 1973.
Nigeria missed out on a place in the Maputo 2011 contest won by their bitter rivals Ghana.
The Nigerian side, who are drawn in
Group B alongside holders Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal, open their
Brazzaville 2015 campaign against the Ghanaians on September 9.
Nigeria and Egypt had been scheduled to
play the opening game of the tournament on September 6, but the North
Africans announced their withdrawal from the event on Thursday without
giving any reasons.
Ghana will now face Senegal in the opener. Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso make up Group A.
Samson Siasia will lead his troops
against Senegal in the second game of the tournament on September 14 –
to seal a place in the semifinals.
Nigeria, who defeated Guinea 2-0 to win
the title at home in 1973, lost 1-0 to Algeria in the final of Algiers
’78. They won bronze at Cairo ’91 and Harare ’95 – and lost 2-0 to
Cameroon to settle for silver when they hosted the Games in Abuja in
2003. Nigeria failed to qualify for the football event at Algiers 2007
and Maputo 2011.
Hosts Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso will fight for the two automatic tickets in Group A
After their failure to qualify for the
women’s football event of Maputo 2011, the Super Falcons will be out to
make a strong statement by winning the title for the third time at
Brazzaville 2015.
Nigeria, who are drawn against hosts
Congo, Tanzania and Ivory Coast in Group A, won the title in 2003 and
2007. The Falcons face Congo on Sunday.
Cameroon, who are housed in Group B along with Ghana, South Africa, are the defending champions.
Nigeria are expected to dominate
athletics, with or without Blessing Okagbare, who has reportedly
withdrawn from the Games. Nigeria won 10 gold, six silver and five
bronze to rule Maputo 2011. They are also favourites to the
para-athletics events.
The Games end on September 19.
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