By Victor Kanayo
Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is bubbling as Team Nigeria, Ghana, and other young swimmers from across the continent begin contesting in the Africa Junior Swimming Championship, scheduled between April 29 and May 3, 2025.
Heritage Times HT reports that South Africa, hosts Egypt, Mauritius, and other African countries are among those competing in the championship, which is expected to produce future swimming stars.
Ahead of the competition, the Nigeria Junior Swimming Team, having arrived earlier, is gearing up for battles.
The team, which consists of 14 swimmers – 8 boys and 6 girls – was led by the President of the Nigeria Aquatic Federation (NAqF), Chinonye Daphey Aliyu; Secretary-General of the Federation, Taiwo Oriss; parents of the swimmers; Head Coach Yellow Yeiyah; and his assistant, Labake Oriretan.
The continent’s most populous nation will compete in the 50m and 100m backstroke, butterfly, among other events.
Also, Team Ghana, already in Egypt, includes Johnson Gyarko, Oduma Agyei, Yemen Bozuma Cornie, Jacob Kaleem, Michael Crabbe-Mann, Jada Yankey, Tamba Akin Boamah, and Rihana Yankey, headed by Coach Kenneth Ankrah.
The swimmers will participate in breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle, butterfly, and medley events.
The championship is in its 16th edition.
Nigeria last hosted the competition in 2011.
