By Victor Kanayo
A Nigerian, Engr. Habu Gumel, has been re-elected into the Executive Committee of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
His emergence followed ANOCA’s General Assembly, which was held in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, at the weekend.
Aside from Gumel, who retained his position as ANOCA Treasurer, the composition of the new Executive Committee reflects a mix of familiar faces and newcomers.
Gumel is currently the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the country’s sole member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Heritage Times HT reports that Algerian Moustapha Beraf also retained his position as President of the association, having run unopposed.
A report from Algiers indicates that one of the most closely contested positions was for the role of Secretary-General, where Sudanese candidate Ahmed Abouelgasim Hashim engaged in a spirited battle with Cameroonian contender David Ojong.
At the end, Hashim emerged victorious with a convincing 29 votes against his rival’s 12.
Others who also emerged are Joao Da Costa Alegre Afonso as 1st Vice President from São Tomé and Príncipe, Spencer A. Fortes Filomena Maria as 2nd Vice President from Cape Verde, and Alfred Foloko as 3rd Vice President from Zambia.
Others are Fardouza Moussa Egueh as 4th Vice President from Djibouti, Hammad Abdulerrahmane as President Zone 1 from Algeria, Habib Sissoko as President Zone 2 from Mali, Jean Yameogo as President Zone 3 from Burkina Faso, Idriss Dokony Adiker as President Zone 4 from Chad, Donald Rukare as President Zone 5 from Uganda, Jappie Mhango as President Zone 6 from Malawi, and Siteny Thierry Randrianasoloniaiko as President Zone 7 from Madagascar.
There was also the emergence of Gaby Ahrens Diana as Athletes’ Representative from Namibia, Victoire Ngon Ntame as Athletes’ Representative from Cameroon, and Tegla Loroupe as Athletes’ Representative from Kenya.
The Assembly was rounded up with a special awards ceremony, with Rena Wakama, Nigeria’s D’Tigress Coach for the 2024 Paris Olympics, being one of the recipients.
She was adjudged the Best African Coach at the Olympics by ANOCA.
