Photo credit: Business Day
The past week in African sports has been electrifying, as Africa’s top athletes have captivated audiences worldwide at events such as the African Games and the Basketball Africa League.
13th African Games
The 13th African Games stood out as a monumental gathering of athletes from across the continent, all vying for prestigious African titles. Among them, standout performers emerged, etching their names into the annals of their respective sports.
Nigeria’s Elizabeth Mausi Zannu etched her name in history on March 16th in Accra, becoming the first athlete to clinch a medal in the Arm-Wrestling event. Zannu’s remarkable achievement came in the 2023 edition, which marked the debut of Arm Wrestling as a scoring event. She seized the gold in the women’s 55kg category, showcasing unparalleled strength and skill as she defeated Ghana’s Racheal Lankai.
Meanwhile, Nigeria made waves in athletics by setting a new African record of 3:13.26 in the Mixed 4x400m Relay at the African Games Accra 2023. The Nigerian team’s stellar performance included a stunning comeback, as they surged past the leading Botswana team to seize the gold medal on March 19th.
Another standout performance came from South Africa’s Jo-Ann van Dyk, who delivered an awe-inspiring throw of 60.80m in the javelin event, breaking the African Games record and securing the gold medal on March 21st.
Follow our live blog here for more African Games excitement.
Basketball Africa League
Shifting focus to basketball, the Basketball Africa League’s Kalahari Conference concluded on March 17th. FUS de Rabat emerged as the victors, with three wins out of four games, while Petro de Luanda secured the second position with two wins and two losses. The Cape Town Tigers finished third with one win and three losses.
Notably, FUS de Rabat and Petro de Luanda solidified their spots in the BAL Playoffs and Finals with their stellar performances, setting the stage for an enthralling showdown in Kigali, Rwanda, following the conclusion of the remaining conferences.
New national record
In a remarkable display of individual excellence, Adrian Wildschutt shattered his own national 10,000m record on March 16th. Competing at the World Athletics continental tour in San Juan Capistrano, California, Wildschutt achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first South African athlete to break the 27-minute barrier in the event, clocking in at an astonishing 26:55.54.
Overall, the past week has underscored the immense talent and dedication of African athletes across various sports, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the future of African sports on the global stage.
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