By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria have been placed fourth at the end of 2023 Africa Beach Games which held in Hammamet, Tunisia.
The week-long sporting fiesta drew no fewer than 52 countries from parts of the continent.
At the end , Algeria were announced as the winner after the north African side placed tops on the table.
Heritage Times HT reports that two more north African nations – Tunisia and Morocco finished second and third respectively at the second edition of the continental Beach Games.
Statistics show that 23 countries of the 52 made it to the medals table, winning a total of 180 medals comprising 59 gold, 58 silver and 63 bronze medals.
Nigeria’s Medals’ Feat
Nigeria secured a total of 12 medals – 6 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze, after participating in 10 sports, namely Teqball, Beach Volleyball, Beach Handball, Air Badminton, Kata Karate, Open Water Swimming, Tennis, Ocean, Rowing Beach Sprint and Beach Wrestling.
Out of the 10, Nigeria won medals in five.
In Air Badminton mixed Team event, Nigeria won gold medal.
In the Mixed doubles, Nigeria won another gold medal.
In the Women’s Triple event, Nigeria also won bronze medal.
The Men’s Triple, Nigeria clinched the Silver medal.
In Tecqball, Nigeria earned a gold and two silver medals.
Nigeria’s Beach Wrestling Team won the most medals – a whopping three gold.
Competition Model As New Arena To Many
The events were relatively new to many countries, particularly some of the landlocked countries without access to the seas, rivers or waters of any sort.
But not for the North African countries – Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Algeria.
South Africa in Southern Africa is in league with North Africa’s high performance in Beach events, being surrounded by Beaches.
Even though Nigeria also has some of the best beaches in some major towns like Lagos, Badagry, Calabar, Eket, Port Harcourt and Yanagoa as well as towns like Onitsha, Idah, with Rivers where Beach Games can be developed but dogged by several other challenges.
