Abuja Concludes Historic First Continental Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe 2024 Olympic Qualifiers  

Abuja, Nigeria, recently hosted a groundbreaking continental canoe sprint and para-canoe event, serving as a 2024 Olympic qualifier in Paris. This historic occasion saw over 15 countries participating, with athletes competing in 18 races across various categories including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. The event, held at the Jabi Boat Club, marked a significant milestone as the first continental Olympic qualifiers for the sport.

International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko praised Nigeria for its excellent organization and professionalism in hosting the event. He noted the importance of expanding the sport into new regions within Africa, highlighting the event as a significant political symbol for the continent.

The competition was intense, with eight qualifying spots for the Olympics up for grabs. Nigerian canoe athlete Bello Ayomide Powei, who competed in the C2 500-meter event, expressed confidence in making the nation proud, while Drevor Lespoir from Seychelles acknowledged the challenges posed by competing against top athletes.

Ultimately, teams from Angola, Tunisia, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa triumphed, securing their Olympic tickets. Other participating nations included Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, São Tomé, Senegal, Seychelles, and Uganda.

Team Nigeria finished as runners-up, just behind table-toppers South Africa, in the overall standings of the 9th African Canoe Olympic Qualifiers. The event also doubled as the Canoe Sprint/Para-canoe African Championships. A total of 16 African countries competed in events such as C1 200M Women, C2 500M Women, C1 1000M Men, C2 500M Men, and various kayak races.

The winners in each category qualified directly for the Olympics, while the second and third-place finishers would have other opportunities to qualify for the 2024 Paris Games. South Africa dominated the medal table with a total of eight medals, including eight gold and one bronze. Nigeria followed closely with nine medals, including four gold, four silver, and one bronze.

Notably, Nigeria’s Ayomide Bello emerged as the overall best female athlete, winning three gold medals in all her events. She teamed up with Otuedo Beauty in the C2 Women 500m to clinch gold, while the duo of Endurance Godhelp and Celestine Etoi secured gold for Nigeria in the K2 men’s 200m race.

Other top performers included Tunisia, finishing third with 15 medals; Senegal, in fourth with five medals; and Algeria, in fifth with 12 medals. Angola, Mozambique, and Egypt also finished among the top eight teams, showcasing the depth of talent across the continent.

The event concluded on a high note, reflecting the growing enthusiasm and competitive spirit in African canoeing. This milestone sets the stage for an exciting representation of African talent at the Paris 2024 Olympics.