By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria has secured the hosting rights for the 2027 African Beach Games, further strengthening its position as a destination for major international sporting events in Africa.
The announcement was made in Abuja by the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), Mustapha Berraf, who said the decision reflected growing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to successfully host continental sporting competitions.
The award comes shortly after Nigeria secured the rights to host the second edition of the African School Games in 2027, underscoring expanding collaboration between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and ANOCA.
The African Beach Games will feature events including beach volleyball, beach handball, beach football and beach basketball, among other disciplines.
Berraf commended the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s sports sector, attributing the country’s emergence as a preferred host nation to the leadership of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade.
He said ANOCA was impressed by Nigeria’s recent commitment to sports development and its proven record of successfully staging major competitions.
“I want to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria for what it has been doing in sports in recent times. That is why we wasted no time in awarding Nigeria the hosting rights,” Berraf said.
He recalled Nigeria’s successful hosting of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Africa U-18/U-20 Championships in Abeokuta at short notice, describing it as evidence of the country’s capacity to organize international events efficiently.
Speaking on the development, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko said hosting the African Beach Games aligns with the Commission’s strategy of using sports as a catalyst for economic growth.
According to him, attracting international competitions will boost Nigeria’s sports economy while creating opportunities for tourism, investment and youth development.
Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, attributed the country’s recent hosting successes to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the administration has prioritized sports development.
Meanwhile, ANOCA and the African Union are in advanced discussions with Nigeria over the possibility of hosting Africa’s Olympic qualification events for the 2030 Olympic Games.
The proposal is aimed at enabling African athletes to compete for Olympic qualification within the continent, reducing the need to travel to Europe and other regions for qualifying events.
