Nigeria will host the 13th West Africa Deaf Football Tournament and the 3rd West Africa Deaf Athletics Championships.
This is an integral part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
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The events are scheduled to take place from August 18 to 30, 2025, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, President of the West Africa Deaf Sports Union (WADSU), Amuda Yusuf, said the competitions will serve as qualifiers for upcoming international events, including the Deaflympics, All Africa Deaf Games, and the Confederation of Africa Deaf Football Championship.
Yusuf emphasized that the championships are not just competitive platforms, but also vital for promoting inclusion and integration of deaf athletes in mainstream sports across West Africa.
According to him, events like these will help athletes build careers, gain recognition, and become more visible in national events such as the National Sports Festival and school sports meets.
He extended appreciation to the National Sports Commission for providing access to the stadium and thanked ECOWAS for financial support.
However, he noted that WADSU still requires additional funding to meet the full demands of hosting both tournaments.
Team Nigeria, the defending champions in both the football and athletics categories, will be looking to retain their titles on home soil.
According to Ige-Jenyo Olawale, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Nigerian athletes will enter camp 14 days ahead of the competition.
The camping will be held at the Package B section of the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Nigeria is expected to field the largest contingent at the tournament, which will feature athletes from 12 West African nations. Confirmed participants include Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea, and Ivory Coast. While Ghana will participate in athletics, it will not be involved in the football tournament.
This will be the fourth time Nigeria will host the West Africa Deaf Football Tournament.
