Kaduna, September 22, 2024 — Nigeria is set to host the African Military Games for the first time in November 2024. The event will feature athletes from 44 African countries competing in 19 different sporting activities.
This announcement was made by Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, the Director of Sports at the Defence Headquarters and chairman of the organizing committee, during a press conference in Kaduna over the weekend. He revealed that the games will include sports such as basketball, lawn tennis, golf, track and field, combat swimming, taekwondo, kickboxing, volleyball, archery, and obstacle crossing, among others.
To select the athletes who will represent Nigeria at the games, trials will be held from September 23 to 27, 2024. A total of 1,600 athletes from various military formations across the country are expected to compete in the selection process.
According to AVM Marquis, the theme of the Armed Forces Games 2024 is “Enhancing Military Professionalism through Sports,” emphasizing the importance of physical fitness and teamwork among military personnel. The event will also serve as a platform to choose Nigeria’s best athletes for the African Military Games.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) selected Kaduna as the host city to help stimulate the local economy. Sporting events will be held at venues including Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, and military facilities such as the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base.
This historic event is expected to attract significant attention as Nigeria prepares to host the continent’s top military athletes.
