Nigeria began the African Military Games on a triumphant note, clinching gold medals in both the men’s and women’s handball events at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The men’s team secured a convincing 31-23 victory, while the women’s team dominated with a 36-18 win. Both matches featured only Nigeria and Ghana, with Ghana taking silver in both categories.
Handball coach Emeka Nnamani expressed delight over his team’s performance. “I’m very happy and satisfied. The players executed our plan perfectly. We don’t need to score 100 goals to prove that—we’ll maintain our system in upcoming games,” he said.
Greco-Roman Wrestling Silver for Nigeria
In wrestling, Tochukwu Okeke claimed silver in the 87kg men’s Greco-Roman category. Okeke defeated Tunisia’s Sobri Mmosria in his third match, finishing with two wins and one loss.
Football Setback
In football, Nigeria narrowly missed out on a spot in the final after a 1-0 loss to archrival Cameroon. The decisive goal came in added time, sending Cameroon to the final scheduled for Saturday. Four teams—Cameroon, Nigeria, Algeria, and Equatorial Guinea—are competing in the football event.
Games Opened with a Message of Unity
The second edition of the African Military Games (AMGA) was officially declared open by President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Tinubu highlighted the importance of unity in addressing Africa’s security challenges.
“Our collective safety and well-being demand that we stand together as one united Africa. This event is a testament to the cooperation among military institutions across the continent,” Tinubu stated.
Upcoming Events
Today’s schedule features archery, basketball, boxing, football, squash, taekwondo, shooting, and wrestling.
The All-Africa Military Games is Africa’s premier event for showcasing the skill, endurance, and teamwork of its finest military athletes, with 19 disciplines, including track and field, golf, combat swimming, and obstacle courses.
