40th Anniversary celebration: ANOCA to honours the 11 African gold medalists @ Tokyo Olympics

40th Anniversary celebration: ANOCA to honours the 11 African gold medalists @ Tokyo Olympics
September 27 21:10 2021 Print This Article

The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) will give awards to 12 outstanding African athletes as it celebrates its 40th anniversary on Tuesday in Abuja.

 

Habu Gumel, the Treasurer of ANOCA, while disclosing this on Monday in Abuja said the event would be about “celebrating four decades of powering Africa through sports and spreading the Olympic spirit”.

 

“The journey started with the formation of ANOCA in Lomé, Togo 40 years ago and the organisation is still waxing stronger with its 54 member-associations,” he said.

 

Gumel, who is also the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), disclosed that ANOCA would also give awards to celebrate some of Africa’s medalists at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

 

“These 12 medallists, made up of 11 gold medalists and one silver medalist, will receive the ANOCA Order of Merit award.”

 

He listed the awardees to include Blessing Oborududu, a freestyle wrestler who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Games.

 

“The rest are gold medal winners and include: Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui (400m freestyle swimming, Tunisia), Eliud Kipchoge (marathon, Kenya), Emmanuel Korir (800m, Kenya), Faith Chepngetich–Kipyegon (1500m, Kenya), Peres Jepchichir (marathon, Kenya) and Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei (5,000m, Uganda).

 

”The others are: Peruth Chemutai (3,000m, Uganda), Fatjana Shoenmaker (200m breaststroke, South Africa), Feryal Abdelaziz (karate, Egypt), Selemon Barega (10,000m, Ethiopia) and Soufiane El Bakkali (3000m, Morocco).”

 

Gumel added that African sports ministers and other distinguished sports personalities who have displayed the Olympic spirit over the years would also be honoured at the occasion.

 

He however noted that ANOCA has taken several notable strides, which include also growing to have a home in Abuja.

 

“The secretariat in Abuja represents Nigeria’s commitment to supporting African sportsmen and women. Therefore, Abuja is now the Olympic capital of Africa,” the ANOCA Treasurer added.

 

Gumel disclosed further that the 40th anniversary celebration would hold at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on Tuesday with the presence of top dignitaries in governance and sports.

 

“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the chief host and will give the keynote address while the Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, will deliver his speech as the Host Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

 

“Mustapha Berraf, the ANOCA President, and the association’s Executive Board members will also lead other dignitaries, which will include African Ministers of Sports, during the celebration,” he said.

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