(L-R) LGAN President, Evelyn Oyome, Pearl Omaruaye and Nnenna Ahube; Team Nigeria representatives at the just concluded 2024 All Africa Challenge Trophy in Morocco. (Photo Credit:NAN)
By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Dec. 11, 2024 (NAN) Nigeria has won the bid to host the next edition of the prestigious All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) in 2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AACT is a biennial continental ladies golf championship in Africa that had its inaugural edition in May 1992 in Zimbabwe.
Nigeria hosted the AACT in 1996 at the Ikoyi Club 1938, while in 2010, the AACT was played at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.
This would be the third time Nigeria will be hosting the championship.
Interestingly, the West and Central Africa Challenge Trophy (a regional version of the championship) was also held for the first time in Nigeria at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estates and Resort, Lagos, in 2023.
Evelyn Oyome, the President, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) who was the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the championship’s 16th edition in Morocco told NAN that Nigeria emerged winner amongst the 20 countries that took part in the bidding process.
“Nigeria had earlier hosted the West, Central Africa Challenge Trophy in October last year at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate and Resort in Lagos, showcasing its outstanding golfing facilities, with no fewer than 10 countries participating.
“So, hosting that championship successfully last year kind of gave us the edge amongst so many other countries who also bidded and winning was a huge victory for Nigeria,” she said.
Oyome revealed that the Federal Capital Territory would be the host city for the AACT 2026 edition, with no fewer than 30 countries expected to participate in the championship.
“The FCT met all the criteria for a host city, and it will be a great opportunity to welcome the whole of Africa into the nation’s capital.
“The AACT is a great opportunity to promote Nigeria. It is indeed equivalent to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in football,” she said.
NAN also reports that the AACT 16th edition hosts, Morocco, hosted the championship for the first time on the Golf de Tazegzout in Agadir from Nov. 28 to Nov. 30.
The Moroccan national women’s team won brilliantly, marking a new stage in the growth of Moroccan golf.
With the participation of 20 nations, including South Africa, holders of 14 of the 15 previous editions, the emblematic competition of African women’s golf saw Morocco shine.
Thanks to an excellent collective performance, the Moroccan national team, composed of Sofia Cherif Essakali, Rim Imni, Nadia Sanz Ouezzani and their captain Raja Hasnaoui, won with a total score of -7, ahead of South Africa by two shots (-5). Kenya finished 3rd in the competition (+7).
The Nigerian team, which comprised of the LGAN President, Evelyn Oyome, Nnenna Ahube, and Pearl Omaruaye, tried their best but settled for the 12th position, though coming first amongst West African countries.
Nnenna Ahube, however, told NAN that it was a great and exciting experience for her being the first time she was playing in the AACT.
“For me personally, it was my first time playing the AACT competition, and it was a great experience, though not without some challenges.
“Countries like South Africa went well ahead to train to master the course under the sponsorship of their government, while we went two days before the competition and had only one day to practice.
Nnenna Ahube said that with the identification of talented golfers, sponsorship as well as early training and preparation, the country would perform much better in the next edition.
She expressed her gratitude to LGAN President, madam Evelyn Oyome, for the opportunity as well as Bonny Island Golf Club (BIGC), RA Club, and her community members for the huge support.
“In all, it was a very beautiful experience. A lot of lessons learnt and a lot to fix,” she said(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
