Egypt, Nigeria Emerge Leaders As African Games Conclude

The 2023 African Games in Ghana concluded with Egypt as the top-performing nation, securing 186 medals.
Ghana hosted a vibrant championship, highlighted by a spectacular opening ceremony showcasing Africa’s cultural diversity.
Team Nigeria excelled in athletics, wrestling, and weightlifting, securing 114 medals overall.

Eko Hot Blog reports that The 2023 African Games concluded on Saturday, March 22, with Egypt emerging as the perennial champions once again. The event, which took place in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, officially commenced on March 8.

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All of the 54 countries in Africa participated, with only Cape Verde missing from the 13th edition of the Games.

The Games were originally scheduled for August 2023 but a failure to complete facilities on time and issues over marketing revenue resulted in the event being postponed till March 2024.

However, the challenges didn’t stop the West African country from hosting a memorable championship.

The Games kicked off with a mesmerizing opening ceremony at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, showcasing the vibrant cultural heritage, athletic excellence, and diversity of the African continent.

The opening ceremony was a dazzling display of colors, choreography, and symbols that celebrated Africa’s vast diversity. As the participating nations paraded into the stadium, an electric atmosphere of excitement and pride filled the air, embodying the collective values of unity and friendship.

Ghana, the host country, spared no effort in showcasing its cultural riches, featuring a diverse display of traditional dances, music, and artistic showcases. Renowned Ghanaian musicians such as the dynamic award-winning Dancehall artist Shatta Wale, the charismatic award-winning Afrobeat singer and songwriter King Promise, along with South African sensation Kamo Mphela, renowned for her electrifying Amapiano performances and hits like “Dalie,” enthralled the audience, enhancing the ceremony’s enchanting allure.

In the athletics competition, Team Nigeria excelled, securing an impressive tally of 11 gold, six silver, and four bronze medals, totaling 21 medals. Additionally, Nigeria dominated in wrestling and weightlifting events. Despite their strong performance, they found themselves in second place behind Egypt on the overall medals table.

Egypt leads with 186 medals, including 100 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. Nigeria follows closely behind with 114 medals – 43 gold, 32 silver, and 39 bronze.