Over 1,000 Athletes Arrive Abuja for 2025 African Karate Championship

More than 1,000 athletes from 31 nations have converged on Abuja for the 2025 African Karate Championship, which begins on July 21 and will run through July 28.

President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), Silas Agara, confirmed the development during a media briefing on Sunday, stating that Nigeria will host participants competing across four distinct categories: cadet, junior, senior, and para-karate.

According to Agara, the cadet division is open to athletes aged 14 to 15, while the junior category will feature competitors between 16 and 17 years. Senior and para-karate events are reserved for participants aged 18 and above.

“We’re pleased to announce that most of the countries that earlier expressed interest are now present in Abuja,” Agara said. “We also have international officials who are here to offer technical support throughout the event.”

He noted that preparations by the local organising committee had been underway for the past week to ensure a smooth championship, including accommodation and transport arrangements for visiting delegations.

“As of Wednesday night, the registration deadline, 31 countries had confirmed participation, bringing with them over 1,000 athletes and officials,” he added. “Managing logistics such as hotel bookings, local transportation, and visa-on-arrival arrangements hasn’t been easy, but everything is on track.”

Agara also revealed that the championship’s General Assembly would be held in Abuja during the course of the week-long event.

Meanwhile, KFN’s Technical Director, Dave Jegede, disclosed that Nigeria will field 60 athletes across various categories and expressed optimism about the team’s prospects.

“Our athletes are well prepared,” Jegede said. “In anticipation of hosting, we organised several competitions four national and two regional to keep them in top form.”

He added that many of the Nigerian athletes are decorated champions, including medalists from previous African and Commonwealth competitions.

“With the level of preparation and the quality of our squad, we are confident Nigeria will deliver an impressive performance,” Jegede concluded.