THE 2023 African Games, which officially began March 8, ends on Saturday (today) with perennial champions Egypt once again claiming top spot at the continental sports showpiece event, which held in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.
Of the 54 countries in Africa, 53 were in attendance, with only Cape Verde absent from the 13th edition of the Games.
The Games were initially billed for August 2023 but a failure to complete facilities on time and issues over marketing revenue resulted in the event being delayed till March 2024.
However, it didn’t stop the West African country hosting a memorable championship.
The Games commenced with a breathtaking opening ceremony at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, capturing the rich cultural heritage, sporting prowess and diversity of the African continent.
The opening ceremony was a dazzling display of colors, choreography, and symbols that celebrated Africa’s vast diversity. As the participating nations paraded into the stadium, an electric atmosphere of excitement and pride filled the air, embodying the collective values of unity and friendship.
Ghana, the host nation, pulled out all the stops in presenting its cultural treasures, with an array of traditional dances, music, and artistic performances. Top Ghanaian musicians, including the vibrant Award-winning Dancehall artist, Shatta Wale, the charismatic Award-winning afrobeat singer and songwriter King Promise, and South African sensation Kamo Mphela, known for her electrifying Amapiano moves and hits like ‘Dalie, thrilled the audience, adding to the ceremony’s captivating appeal.
Team Nigeria dominated the athletics event, claiming an amazing 11 gold, six silver and four bronze, totalling 21 medals. The 2003 champions on home soil also dominated wrestling and weightlifting events but found themselves in a distant second position to Egypt on the overall medals table.
Leaders Egypt boast 186 medals — 100 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze — while second-place Team Nigeria have 114 medals – 43 gold, 32 silver and 39 bronze.
South Africa are in third place with 32 gold, 32 silver and 41 bronze. Algeria, Tunisia, hosts Ghana, Morocco, Mauritius, Ethiopia and Kenya complete the Top 10 spots in that order.
