African Championships

African Athletics Championships (AAC) was inaugurated in 1979 at the Senegalese capital, Dakar; the city is famous for its namesake rally-raid classic, which also started the very same year. Twenty-four nations have assembled the first championships, with 39 events contested in four days. Nigeria topped the standings in the 1979 edition with 24 medals that were mainly collected at sprint-related events.

The lowly-contested second edition was held in Cairo, led by a Kenyan team with 34 total podiums. Kenya dominates women’s competition mainly, but the championship’s brightest individual came from the opposite side of the continent: Nawal Al Mutawakel. The Moroccan legend shone as an international star in Cairo with four medals, including two hurdling golds.

In 1989, African Champs were held in Lagos, where the dominance of the host country was so heavy, especially in women’s events. Nigerian girls, some of them would be Olympic medallists in upcoming years, had three podium sweeps in Lagos.

The Republic of South Africa, one of the biggest nations of the continent, had no chance to contest in African Champs until 1992 because of the apartheid regime ban. But they made a stunning entrance to the international scene with 47 medals in the 1992 African Champs (16-15-15), then increased their impressive total medal tally to 50 at their first hosting event in Durban 1993. South Africa’s 50 medals in a single edition is still the standing medal record of the AAC.

Algeria welcomed African friends for the Champs in 2000, and they became first-time leading nation of medal standing in the home event. After that edition, we went back to regular duality, which means South Africa and Kenya have switched top nation titles, except Nigeria, which got it once in 2012.

From 1996, the African Champs back to two-year circle in the calendar and held every occasion since then. With stopping 14 different countries during the past 23 editions, the African Athletics Champs is a very versatile and colourful event on the athletics map.

STATSPACK - AFRICAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

MOST SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES

7-2-0 Mary Onyali-Omagbemi (NGR)

7-1-1 Hakim Toumi (ALG)

7-1-0 Blessing Okagbare (NGR)

7-0-0 Syrine Balti-Ebondo (TUN)

6-3-0 Chris Harmse (RSA)

6-2-1 Amadou Dia Ba (SEN)

6-2-0 Falilat Ogunkoya (NGR)

6-1-1 Grace Wanjiru (KEN)

6-1-0 Maria Usifo (NGR)

6-0-2 Oludamola Osayomi (NGR)

6-0-2 Zoubaida Laayouni (MAR)

6-0-0 Ruth Atuti (KEN)

MOST CONSECUTIVE TITLES IN THE SAME EVENT

5 Kabelo Kgosiemang (BOT) in HJ (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014)

4 Amadou Dia Ba (SEN) in 400H (1982, 1984, 1985, 1988)

4 Chris Harmse (RSA) in HT (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)

4 Hakim Toumi (ALG) in HT (1984, 1985, 1988, 1989)

4 Marwa Ahmed Hussein (EGY) in HT (2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)

4 Elizna Naude (RSA) in DT (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)

4 Zoubaida Laayouni (MAR) in DT (1979, 1982, 1984, 1985)

4 Syrine Balti-Ebondo (TUN) in PV (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006)

4 Lucienne N'da Bamba (CIV) in HJ (1988, 1989, 1990, 1992)

4 Odile Ahouanwanou (BEN) in Heptathlon (2018, 2022, 2024, 2026)

LONGEST WIN STREAKS BY A COUNTRY

7 Nigeria in Men's LJ (1984-93)

6 Nigeria in Women's DT (2012-24)

6 Kenya in Women's 10,000m (2012-24)

6 Kenya in Men's 800m (2002-12)

6 Kenya in Men's 800m (1989-98)

6 Kenya in Men's 5000m (1989-98)

6 Kenya in Men's 3000SC (2004-14)

6 Nigeria in Women's 4x400m (1989-98)

5 Kenya in Men's 5000m (2010-18)

5 South Africa in Men's 400H (2002-10)

5 Egypt in Men's SP (1979-88)

5 Botswana in Men's HJ (2004-14)

5 Nigeria in Men's 4x100m (1984-90)

5 Nigeria in Women's LJ (2010-18)

5 Nigeria in Women's 400m (1985-92)

MOST SUCCESSFUL NATION IN ONE EDITION

South Africa (RSA) in Bellevue Maurel 1992 (16-16-15)

MOST MEDALS IN TOTAL (Single edition)

South Africa (RSA) in Durban 1993 (50 medals)

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Photo: Getty Images – Jose Cendon, 2008 African Champs opening ceremony, Addis Ababa (ETH)