By Abraham Olayinka
Nigeria has concluded its participation in the 2023 All African Games in Ghana with an impressive second-place finish, accumulating a total of 47 gold, 34 silver, and 40 bronze medals.
The Nigerian contingent excelled particularly in athletics, clinching 11 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze medals, as well as in boxing, where they secured 8 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals.
Despite a strong showing across various events, Nigeria fell short of the top position, with Egypt emerging as the overall champion once again. Host nation Ghana also featured prominently among the top-performing countries in the competition.
This marks Nigeria’s consistent performance in the All African Games, maintaining its position among the leading nations in continental sports competitions.
Like in the All-African Games in 2015 and 2019, Nigeria finished second-best to Egypt with host Nation Ghana, out of the top 5.
For the 12th African Games, which took place in Rabat, Morocco. Considered as the biggest sporting event in Africa, the African Games brought together more than 6,000 athletes from 29 different sports disciplines who competed on several sites in the cities of Rabat, Salé, Témara, Casablanca, Benslimane and El Jadida. At the end, many of them qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, which will take place in 2020.
Egypt leads the overall standings with 273 medals including 102 gold, 97 silver, 73 bronze. Algeria is in fourth place with 125 medals (33 gold, 32 silver and 60 bronze). Morocco, the host country, finished fifth with 109 medals (31 gold, 32 silver and 46 bronze). Nigeria finished second with 127 medals; 46 gold, 33 silver, 48 bronze; while South Africa finished third with 87 medals (36 gold). Algeria came fourth with 125 medals (33 gold). The host country, Morocco, finished fifth with 109 medals (31 gold) and Tunisia sixth, with 97 medals (26 gold).
The 11th African Games took place from September 4–19, 2015 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. This edition marked the 50th anniversary of the Games, as well as their return to Brazzaville, which hosted the first edition in 1965.
Eventually, Team Nigeria emerged as the second placed team behind Egypt, the overall winners at end of the competition.
Team Nigeria, against all expectations was able to rake in 47 gold 55 and 42 bronze medals to place second after Egypt that had an unassailable lead — 85 gold, 41 silver and 40 bronze medals.
However, it was a tough fight as Team Nigeria came from behind to displace South Africa that had been in the second spot during earlier part of the Games.
