With just four days to the official start of the 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, the host nation Nigeria has begun welcoming visiting teams — and leading the charge are athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, early Saturday morning.
The arrival of the Congolese contingent signals the formal commencement of the championship’s arrival phase, and it was met with a vibrant show of Nigerian hospitality orchestrated by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) protocol team, led by Arabirin Aderonke, Head of Protocol.
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“We are excited to receive the first set of athletes arriving for the championship,” said Arabirin Aderonke.
“This marks the beginning of what promises to be a historic and memorable competition. Our teams are fully mobilized at the airports to ensure a smooth experience for all arriving delegations, in line with the National Sports Commission’s mandate for excellence.”
The LOC spared no detail in ensuring a smooth and welcoming process — with smiling hosts, swift logistics, and an efficient transit system put in place to transport athletes from Lagos to Abeokuta, the championship host city.
The biennial competition, scheduled to run from July 16 to 20, 2025, at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, is expected to host over 40 African countries, featuring the continent’s finest U18 and U20 athletes in what is considered a launchpad for future continental and global stars.
More international teams are expected to arrive in the coming days, as the atmosphere in Nigeria begins to buzz with excitement for what promises to be a youth athletics spectacle on African soil
