Nigeria will host the African Military Games for the first time in November 2024, with 44 African nations set to compete for medals in 19 sporting events. This was revealed by Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, Director of Sports at Defence Headquarters and chairman of the organizing committee, during a press conference over the weekend in Kaduna.
AVM Marquis outlined the sporting activities for the Armed Forces Games 2024, which include basketball, lawn tennis, golf, track and field, combat swimming, obstacle crossing, taekwondo, kickboxing, volleyball, and archery, among others.
He also announced that trials to select athletes to represent Nigeria at the Games will be held from September 23rd to 27th, with 1,600 athletes from various military formations across the country competing in 19 sports events.
The theme of the Armed Forces Games 2024, “Enhancing Military Professionalism through Sports,” underscores the goal of using sports to improve physical fitness and build team spirit among military personnel. Marquis noted that the event would serve as a selection ground for Nigeria’s representatives at the African Military Games.
Additionally, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) selected Kaduna as the host city, aiming to boost the local economy. Competitions will be held at venues such as Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Murtala Square, and military facilities including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base.
