By Oluyemi Israel
The 2025 African Karate Championship kicked off on Monday at the Velodrome of Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria, drawing athletes from 31 African countries to compete in various events.
Dave Jegede, Technical Director of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN), spoke on Tuesday about the championship’s smooth start and Nigeria’s efforts to make every participant feel welcome and well-supported. He emphasized that the federation is working hard to offer a high-quality and fair environment for competition.
The event runs through Sunday, with fighters competing in categories like Kumite (fighting) and Kata (form demonstrations) across multiple age levels: cadet (14–15 years), junior (16–17 years), and senior (18+ years).
The championship isn’t just about winning, it’s about unity, professionalism, and representing each country with pride. Jegede said Nigeria’s athletes have undergone intense training to give a strong performance, and urged all participants to be good ambassadors of their countries.
To ensure everything meets international standards, the federation is following the rules of the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) and the World Karate Federation (WKF). Athletes will have access to certified instructors, modern training facilities, and a well-organized competition setup.
Nigeria’s goal is to host an unforgettable event that celebrates skill, sportsmanship, and African unity, welcoming guests and showing the continent’s best talent in action.