National Sports Commission Commends Successful Hosting of 2026 African Track and Para-Cycling Championships
Oru Leonard
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has commended athletes, organisers, officials, and participating countries following the successful conclusion of the 2026 African Track Cycling Championships and the 2026 African Para-Cycling Championships held in Abuja.
The championships, which commenced on May 11 and concluded on May 17 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome, Package A, Abuja, featured the 12th edition of the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) Track Cycling Championships and the 3rd CAC Para-Cycling Championships.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Dikko described all participating athletes as winners, praising their resilience, discipline, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
“To all the cyclists who participated in the championships, I would like to say that everyone is a winner,” he stated.
He expressed appreciation to all athletes, technical officials, organisers, volunteers, and stakeholders whose collective efforts contributed to the successful hosting of the continental event.
The NSC Chairman also congratulated Team Nigeria athletes for their commendable performances and expressed confidence in their future achievements on the international stage.
“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I thank you all for your participation, dedication, and for making this competition a huge success,” Dikko added.
Also speaking, the Secretary General of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Joel Akinluwa, described the championships as highly successful despite minor organisational challenges encountered during the event.
According to Akinluwa, officials of the Union Cycliste Internationale and the Confederation of African Cycling gave positive assessments of Nigeria’s hosting capacity and organisation.
“With the support of the NSC, we were able to successfully host the games, and overall, it was a success,” he said.
He noted that this marked the third time Nigeria hosted the championships, with many participants describing the 2026 edition as a significant improvement on previous editions.
Akinluwa further praised the NSC for its commitment to sports development, particularly in ensuring that facilities, logistics, safety measures, and medical arrangements were adequately put in place before the commencement of the championhips
The championships featured participation from eight African nations, including Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Benin Republic, and host nation Nigeria.
The successful hosting of the championships further reinforces Nigeria’s growing reputation as a capable host of major continental and international sporting events.
Signed:
Dr.(Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi FCAI, ANIPR.
Director, Press & Public Relations
National Sports Commission
Abuja, Nigeria.
