ABEOKUTA, NIGERIA — Sunday, July 21
South Africa reaffirmed its status as a continental athletics powerhouse by retaining its title at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Under-18 and Under-20 Championships held in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Team SA emerged top of the standings, successfully defending their crown despite ongoing disruptions at the event caused by technical issues with the results system. The final medal tally is still pending confirmation from the CAA, after the official timing provider, Timetronics, suffered multiple system failures during the competition, affecting the consistency and release of results.
Despite the technical difficulties, the South African athletes delivered standout performances throughout the championship. Speaking after the event, Athletics South Africa (ASA) President James Moloi expressed pride in the team’s achievements.
“Welcome back to our heroes and heroines. This has been one team, with one dream and one incredible, solid victory,” said Moloi. “Our ongoing dominance of this championship tells the story of the rooted character of our athletes. We salute the athletes, coaches, team management, and parents for their resilience and focus.”
The South African team is currently returning home in two groups. The first contingent landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday after transiting through Kigali, Rwanda, while the second group is scheduled to arrive on Wednesday following the same route.
Final statistics and official results from the championships will be released once verified and declared by the Confederation of African Athletics.
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