Notebook On 4th ANOCA Africa Youth Games

TONY NEZIANYA, Luanda, Angola

If there is one thing members of Team Nigeria are happy about regarding the organisers of the ongoing 4th African Youth Games in Angola, it is the feeding arrangements.

There is a delightful semblance of “swallow” dishes and Nigerian-style soups on offer, accompanied by plenty of fresh fish and seafood.

Specifically, the menu features farina and Nsala (White Soup), prepared just as it would be in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

These dishes are so popular that they are often the first to be finished by athletes and officials alike at their Games’ Village, located on the Luanda’s Tourism resort.

This is a stark contrast to the experience in Algeria no, where team members cried out that the menu was dominated by just rice and dry bread.

The organisers of the last maiden ANOCA secondary School’s Games. Herenow they seem to have got it right, unlike the situation even at the Paris Games’, where there were similar complaints.

The “swallows” are a delight not just for Nigerians, but for other West Africans as well, including the Ghanaian delegations, the Togolese, and the Beninese.

An excited Rita Moshindi, the popular Secretary of the Taekwondo Federation, suggested that future hosts of sporting events on the continent ought to borrow a leaf from the Angolans, she noted.

Moshindi stresses, “If we were to have a say in the makeup of the menu, we would not hesitate to vote en masse for the adoption of the Angola menu variant.”

This is a far as the comparison goes as the arrangements to grant visas has not gone well enough.

Arriving delegations have not been happy that they could not get hold of their travel visas I. good time on their travel documents including Passports.

In most cases, there were shouting matches before matters were resolved.  Language barriers have not helped matters as Angola is Portuguese speaking domain.  At best what you have those who speak halting English, enough to get bye in the streets.

It appears there are not enough awareness about the ongoing competition because spectators are not really turning out at venues to be part of the Games.

Team Nigeria’s Performance at the African Youth Games
Team Nigeria had a very strong outing, particularly in athletics at the 4th African Youth Games in Angola.
* Athletics Performance: Team Nigeria finished second on the medal table for the athletics programme, coming in behind South Africa.
* Total Athletics Medals: 11 medals (6 Gold, 5 Silver).
* Key Highlights and Medals:
* Gold Medals:
* Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo (Girls’ 100m)
* Hafsoh Bisola Majekodunmi (Girls’ 400m)
* Tejiri Ugoh (Girls’ 200m)
* Timothy (Boys’ Triple Jump)
* Girls’ Medley Relay Team
* Boys’ Medley Relay Team

Other Successes:
* The Beach Volleyball team won a gold medal.
* The Badminton team secured 1 Gold (Mixed Doubles), 2 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals.
* Josephine Clement Benjamin won a Bronze medal in Golf.
* Aidan Dumuje Abili won a Bronze medal in the 50m Backstroke in Swimming.
🏅 Overall African Youth Games Medal Standings (Top 3 in Athletics)