ANOCA Endorses Nigeria’s Preparations For Abuja 2027 African School Games

Nigeria’s preparations to host the 2027 African School Games have received a significant boost after the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) expressed satisfaction with the country’s level of readiness following a strategic working session in Abuja.

The endorsement came on Tuesday during a high-level meeting between the ANOCA African School Games Coordination Commission and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), led by its chairman, Mr Lekan Abari. Held at the ANOCA Secretariat in Abuja, the session represented the first major technical review since Nigeria secured the hosting rights for the continental event in 2025.

During the meeting, Abari delivered a comprehensive 46-slide presentation detailing Nigeria’s hosting blueprint. The presentation covered key areas including governance, competition venues, accommodation, logistics, operations and legacy plans designed to ensure a successful staging of the Games.

He also highlighted the organisational structure of the LOC and its various sub-committees, each assigned specific responsibilities to oversee different aspects of the event’s planning and execution.

According to the blueprint, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium will serve as the central venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics competitions and several other sporting events. Jabi Lake has been proposed as the venue for canoeing competitions, while the Games Village and the University of Abuja will accommodate participating athletes. The Transcorp Hilton Abuja is expected to host officials, delegates and key stakeholders.

Abari further revealed that the proposed dates for the Games are from 22 August to 4 September 2027. The 14-day schedule was selected after careful consideration of Nigeria’s political timetable, prevailing weather conditions and the international academic calendar, with the aim of maximising participation and attendance.

Speaking after reviewing the presentation, Chairman of the ANOCA African School Games Coordination Commission, Joao Da Costa Manuel, commended the progress made by the LOC and expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to deliver a memorable event.

“I am satisfied and okay with the level of preparation the Local Organising Committee are putting in place,” Da Costa Manuel said.

He, however, encouraged the organisers to maintain close supervision of all preparatory activities to ensure Abuja hosts a successful Games capable of setting new benchmarks for future editions of the competition.

The African School Games is ANOCA’s flagship youth multi-sport event. The inaugural edition was staged in Algeria in 2025 and featured participation from more than 30 African nations. Abuja 2027 will mark the second edition of the Games and further reinforce Nigeria’s reputation as a reliable host of major continental sporting events.

More than 3,000 student-athletes between the ages of 14 and 16 are expected to compete across over 20 sporting disciplines during the Games.

The ANOCA Coordination Commission is scheduled to continue its working visit with a comprehensive inspection of the proposed facilities. The delegation will tour the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package A and Package B of the sports complex, Jabi Lake, designated accommodation centres and the University of Abuja campus.