No fewer than 1,000 athletes from 31 countries have arrived in Abuja for the 2025 African Karate Championship, which kicks off July 21 and runs through July 28.
The President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria, Silas Agara, told reporters in Abuja on Sunday that 31 countries, including host Nigeria, would compete in four categories of the sport.
Agara categorised the classifications as cadet, which includes athletes aged 14 to 15, and junior, which includes athletes aged 16 to 17.
Other divisions include senior and para karate, which are for participants over the age of 18.
He said, “Today, we are happy to announce that we have most of the countries that have indicated to participate in the upcoming African Championship; they are on the ground.
“We have officials from other countries that are here to provide technical assistance to the championship here on the ground.
“Our part as a federation: we have been on the ground for the past week trying to ensure that all the logistics are in place and accommodation has been sorted for countries that are coming.
“As of Wednesday night, which was the closing date for the registration, we have 31 countries that have indicated interest to come, with over 1,000 athletes from all these countries that will be coming along, including officials.
“Logistics for these athletes and officials have not been too easy in terms of sorting out their accommodation, their transport from the hotel, and immigration processes, that is, sorting their visa on arrival, so these are some of the logistics. But I am happy that we are on course.”
The KFN president announced that the African championship’s General Assembly will take place in Abuja during this time.
The Federation’s Technical Director, Dave Jegede, stated that Nigeria will send 60 athletes to the championships and that the athletes are excited for the competition.
“Anticipatorily, we have been preparing. We know that we are hosting and, as such, have lined up several championships before now to keep our athletes in tune.
“We have about four national and two regional championships which we have done. So these athletes have been attending competitions regularly. They’ve been in camp before now, and they’re in high spirits.
“We have about 60 athletes that will participate in this championship, and many of them are African champions. We have gold medallists, silver medallists, and bronze medallists on our team. We also have Commonwealth medallists on our team.
“So all these put together, and with the preparation we have had, we’re sure we’ll make Nigeria proud,” Jegede said.
