By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Host, Team Nigeria Armed Forces, have been crowned winners of the second edition of the Africa Military Games, staged in Abuja, between November 18th and 30th, 2024.
Nigeria amassed a whooping 234 medals – that’s 115 Gold 64 Silver and 55 Bronze medals, to place overall 1st, ahead of Algeria who were 2nd with 95 medals, comprising 52 Gold 22 Silver and 21 Bronze medals.
Kenya placed 3rd with 21 Gold 16 Silver and 13 Bronze medals for a total of 50 medals; Ghana finished in 4th spot, with 7 Gold, 17 Silver and 16 Bronze medals; and Ethiopia completed the top-five with a tally of 7 Gold 8 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals.
In the only two medal winning events held on Saturday; that’s 100×4 and 4×400 meters relays for men and women; Ghana won 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal; Kenya got 1Gold and 1 Bronze; Algeria won 1 more Gold to solidify their 2nd finish; whilst Team Nigeria added 1Gold, and 2 Bronze medals to their haul.
In all, aside from Zambia, Sierra Leone, DR Congo, and Equatorial Guinea whose athletes failed to mount the podiums; sixteen (16) of the twenty (20) participating countries, won at least a medal.
*Results of the Invitational Relays, which was exclusively for Paramilitary Outfits in Nigeria:*
4×100 Meters (Men)
1st Customs
2nd Civil Defence
3rd Road Safety
(Women)
1st Civil Defence
2nd Road Safety
3rd DSS
4×100 Relay (Women) – 1st Nigeria
2nd Ghana
4×100 Relay (Men)
1st Kenya
2nd Ghana
3rd Nigeria
4×400 Relays (Women)
1st Ethiopia
2nd Ghana
3rd Nigeria
4×400 Relay (Men) 1st Algeria
2nd Kenya
3rd Ghana
One of the most thrilling highlights of the closing ceremony, was the 4×400 Combat Relay – a non medal winning event. It was won by the Nigeria Navy, the Nigeria Army was 2nd, and the Nigeria
Air Force placed 3rd.
Traditional groups, and performers, including the famous Jarawa Dancers from Plateau State were on hand to trill the about 15,000 spectators that attended the closing ceremony.
The Chairman Technical Committee of the games, multi-sport fiesta, which featured 21 events, and was attended by 20 countries, including all three Sahel West Africa States of Mali, Nigeria and Burkina Faso, achieved its set goals and objectives.
“The games marked a significant milestone in using sports as a diplomatic tool, to foster unity and promote peace in cross-boarder Africa. We are thrilled to note that we didn’t have any complaints from any of the contingent, especially our visitors; and the success is down to our involving the Technical Director of all the sports federations, whose events featured in the games”, Brig. Gen. Abdulraheem asserted.
The inaugural edition of the African Military Games (AMG), was held in Nairobi, Kenya from April 7-17, 2002; and the games flag was handed over to the host of the 3rd edition, Algeria during the closing ceremony.
