The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) on Thursday elected Algeria as host nation for the 4th edition of the combined Under-18 and Under-20 African Athletics Championships in 2027.
CAA President, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum disclosed this in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where he also provided updates on upcoming continental athletic events.
“We will have the senior championship in Accra, Ghana in 2026,” Malboum said.
“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.”
Malboum revealed that the duo of Egypt and Ethiopia have expressed interest in hosting future youths’ championships, but stressed that 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.
“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,” Malboum said.
He revealed that Nigeria stepped in as a last-minute host for the 2023 edition, thanks to swift engagement with Nigerian officials.
“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,” Malboum said.
He emphasised 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.
“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,” he said.
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