Team nigeria cyclists are optimistic of a good outing at this year’s tour du afriqu (nigeria to Ghana ) 

The team departed our shores on June 14  for the tour which will run from June 14 to 20th 

The cyclists who converged at the ECOWAS office onikan rode through Eko Bridge, Costain, Orile

Alaba, Okoko, Agbara, Badagry to 

– Seme Border

The tour du Africa will see the cyclists cover a distance of 1000 kilometers

They are to ride from Lagos to grandpopo ,  grandpopo to sogakope, sogakope to Accra  where they will observe a day rest and continue the next from accra to togo, togo to benin and benin to Lagos 

Board member, cycling federation of nigeria, femi Thomas says the Ultimate West African Cycling Adventure affords the cyclists the opportunity to Explore vibrant cities

– Engage with local communities and cyclists

– Foster international friendships and cooperation

“Looking into the past of what ECOWAS tour had been and then stopping of ECOWAS tour in 2008. Tour D’AFRICQUE came into place to stand and trying to revive ECOWAS tour from 2017. Through this we have been able to drag attention to the ECOWAS countries and likewise cycling enthusiasts across the African continent. We have been using this opportunity as well to drive the initiative to empower the youth and likewise creating awareness about cycling , more so, putting competitions  for professional cyclists to see themselves having something to look forward to yearly” He said 

The tour du afriq is also to celebrate ECOWAS 50 years anniversary and revive the ECOWAS tour

The National Association of Women in Sports ( NAWIS ) has commended the Leadership role of the National Sports Commission, NSC, following the election of Ex Nigerian athlete, Fatima Yusuf- Olukoju as NAWIS representative into the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN.

After the conduct of the NAWIS election that took place in Abuja on Monday, the Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, held a reconciliatory meeting with the Association and the principal contestants in the polls, Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju and veteran Sports journalist Nneka Anibeze to iron out grey areas that must have arisen from the outcome of the elections.

The election conducted by NAWIS saw Yusuf-Olukoju beating Anibeze in the polls but both have now decided to forge a common front and work together for the overall interest of the Girl Child and Women empowerment in Nigerian Sports.

A delighted Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju said after the meeting, that she is overwhelmed with the kind of detailed attention the current NSC leadership is giving to Nigerian Sports  and NAWIS is very proud with the current re-engineering going on Nigerian Sports.

” The DG is one person that can bring everybody to one table and make us talk which is what we need in our sports so Nigerian sports is proud to have someone like him and the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko leading our Sports”.

We are all family and as family people do fight but the goal is to amend and move on because we all have one common goal which is to see that the AFN succeeds”.

” No hard feelings between me and Nneka because I won the NAWIS race. She loves athletics and has been with athletics for a very long time. She even covered me as an athlete so I consider her as an ambassador of AFN.We will team up together and move the federation forward”, she concluded.

Nneka Anibeze on her part also praised the role the Director General of the NSC played for  post-election tensions not to escalate.

” I thank the DG for coming in and brokering peace because it actually would not have gone well. He called myself and everyone, and we have all agreed to accept Fatima.

She is an icon of athletics and Someone who also has her plans for women and girls which is similar to what I had plans for. We also share the same passion and with the help of the DG, we have now agreed to work together for the same goal and believe better things are ahead”.

With just 35 days to go, Nigeria is revving up preparations to host the 3rd edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) African Junior Athletics Championship, scheduled to take place from July 16 to 20, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Returning to Nigerian soil, the prestigious biennial event will welcome the continent’s most promising Under-18 and Under-20 athletes to the newly refurbished MKO Abiola International Stadium, which recently played host to the 22nd National Sports Festival.

Over 500 athletes from more than 50 African nations are expected to compete in this year’s championship, making it one of the largest gatherings of young athletic talent on the continent. 

South Africa, the reigning overall champions, will be looking to defend their title, but Nigeria’s young stars are also eager to make a strong statement on home soil.

“This is not just a competition; it is a celebration of Africa’s future in track and field,” Hon. Bukola Olopade, DG of the National Sports Commission said. 

“Nigeria is honored to host once again and to demonstrate its world-class capacity in organizing major sporting events,” he added.

The choice of Abeokuta—also known as the Gateway City—underscores the state’s growing reputation as a hub for sports development, alongside other Nigerian cities. With its state-of-the-art facilities and strategic location, the city is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for athletes, officials, and fans alike.

The CAA African Junior Championships is widely regarded as the breeding ground for the continent’s future Olympic and world champions. 

As the countdown continues, all eyes will be on Nigeria to once again rise to the occasion and reinforce its status as Africa’s true sporting giant.