Athletics: CAA Zone II U-18, U-20 Championships venue moved to Accra
By Olaolu Joseph
The maiden edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Zone II U-18 and U-20 Championships will now take place in Accra, Ghana.
The decision to move the championships to Accra was made by the Executive Committee of the regional athletics body.
President of CAA Zone II, Chief Tonobok Okowa, confirmed the development, stating: “Yes, we initially agreed to stage the competition in Dakar, Senegal, but we had to move it to Accra due to logistical reasons.”
Okowa, who is also a Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) and President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), described Ghana as an excellent alternative to Senegal.
“Last year, Ghana hosted the CAA Zone II Senior Athletics Championship, which was an Olympic Games qualifier, and they did a great job. They were near-perfect hosts.”
He expressed confidence that Ghana would be a top destination for young athletes competing for honors in the U-18 and U-20 categories. The championships are now scheduled to take place in May or June this year.
The Sports Complex of the University of Ghana, Legon, is expected to host the two-in-one athletics competition.
“We are using this event to prepare for the African Youth Championship in July,” Okowa added.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 Championships 2025 will be held in Oran, Algeria, from July 14 to 18, 2025.
The continental body had initially awarded the hosting rights for the event to Madagascar during the CAA Council Meeting in Douala, Cameroon, on June 20, 2024.
The championships are expected to attract more than 500 athletes from 50 countries.
Additionally, the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) will hold its annual Congress in Oran on July 12 and 13, 2025, ahead of the continental sporting event.
In a related development, Secretary-General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Israel Inwang, announced that the rescheduled Awoture U-15, U-18, and U-20 Championships will serve as Nigeria’s national trials for the CAA Zone II U-18 and U-20 Championships.
“Our trials are crucial for selecting Nigeria’s representatives for the regional championships. Rescheduling allows our athletes ample time to train and compete at their best,” Inwang said.
The Awoture U-15, U-18, and U-20 Championships will take place in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria.
