Team Nigeria Makes Waves in Algeria, Secures Medals and Continental Honour
Oru Leonard
Nigeria has recorded a major milestone in aquatic sports after clinching three bronze medals and receiving continental recognition at the 17th Africa Aquatics Championships held in Oran, Algeria.
The championship, which took place from May 5 to 10, 2026, saw Team Nigeria deliver impressive performances against some of Africa’s top swimming talents, further highlighting the country’s rising profile in international aquatics.
One of Nigeria’s brightest moments came in the Girls’ 100m Butterfly event, where India Kate Brown won bronze with a time of 1:05.73, reinforcing the emergence of a new generation of competitive Nigerian swimmers.
The Nigerian contingent also produced several notable performances during the competition. Collins Ebinga placed fifth in the Senior Men’s 100m Butterfly final after clocking 54.92 seconds in a highly competitive race, while Clinton Opute narrowly missed a podium finish in the Men’s 50m Freestyle final despite recording an impressive personal best time of 22.94 seconds.
Junior swimmer Ivan Ijomoni and other members of Team Nigeria were also commended for their resilience and determination throughout the championship.
In a major boost for Nigerian aquatics, the Nigeria Aquatics Federation was honoured by Africa Aquatics with the award for the Fastest Developing Federation in Africa during the closing ceremony.
The award recognises the federation’s rapid progress, improved continental competitiveness, and commitment to athlete development and technical advancement.
Officials said the recognition reflects the impact of ongoing reforms and strategic investments in the sport under the leadership of the National Sports Commission chaired by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade.
The federation noted that Nigeria’s recent successes, including strong performances at the previous Africa Aquatics Championships in Cairo, Egypt, have positioned the country among Africa’s emerging swimming powers.
The Nigeria Aquatics Federation expressed appreciation to the National Sports Commission, coaches, athletes, sponsors, and stakeholders for their support, adding that the achievements in Oran have renewed hopes for greater international success in future competitions.
(NSC Media)
