The African Athletics Confederation has decided to withdraw the organization of the African Championships for athletes under 18 and 20, which were scheduled to be held in April in Oran, Algeria.
The federation announced in an official statement that the withdrawal is due to “various reasons,” without providing further details. It indicated that the championships will be relocated to Abeokuta, Nigeria, in July, alongside the council and congress meetings.
Sources within the African Confederation confirmed that the decision came after technical observations regarding the unpreparedness of Algeria’s infrastructure and sports facilities. This initially led to the postponement of the event, before a final decision was made to withdraw the hosting rights altogether.
This development once again highlights the declining trust of international sports bodies in Algeria, increasing its isolation in continental forums, especially amid repeated withdrawals and criticisms of the authorities’ handling of their organizational commitments.
Algeria was banking on this sporting event to enhance its regional image, but losing it marks a new setback for its credibility, at a time when the country faces increasing economic and political challenges, alongside a significant flight of investment and rising indicators of instability.
