The 21st edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Senior Championships tagged ‘Asaba 2018’ is going to hold from August 1st to 5th in Delta State, Nigeria.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Secretary General, Amaechi Akawo who also serves as the Secretary of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the forthcoming championship, confirmed this to Making of Champions.
He however noted that the arrival date for the biennial competition is July 30th, and revealed that Nigeria is planning to host at least 50 African nations, with several athletes expected to compete in 48 Athletics events.
Meanwhile, AFN President Ibrahim Shehu Gusau last week led an inspection team to the Asaba Township Stadium, which is still under construction, with the Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa promising that the stadium will be completed in time to host the African Championships.
The Chairman Technical Subcommittee for Asaba 2018, Yusuf Alli, commended the pace of work at the stadium and is impressed that the state is putting up the first 100m both ways track in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Record holder in the Long Jump said: “The plan for the Asaba Stadium is a masterpiece; we are having the first 100m both ways track in Nigeria, first of its kind, and the stadium is also being built in such a way that the crowd will be close to the action; such electrifying atmosphere always brings out the best in athletes”.
The last edition of the championships took place in Durban, South Africa in 2016, with the host nation topping the medals table, while Kenya and Nigeria placed 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The 2018 edition of CAA African Athletics Championships also serves as trials for the highly competitive 2018 IAAF Continental Cup billed to hold on September 8th and 9th in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
