The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) convened an Extraordinary General Assembly on 22 September 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, where landmark decisions were taken to chart the course for the future of African sport.
Chaired by ANOCA President, Honourable Mustapha BERRAF, the session opened with a rousing address:
“Africa is no longer waiting: Africa is on the move. For far too long, our continent has been a mere spectator at major global sports events, while our athletes crossed oceans in search of facilities worthy of their talent. Those days are well and truly behind us. Today, Africa no longer asks: Africa builds, organises and hosts. The world is recognising our strength: 1.4 billion people, more than 60 per cent of them under the age of 25, ready to shape the Olympic Movement of the 21st century,” Mustapha Berraf emphasised.
This set the tone for the deliberations, which were graced by dignitaries of the global Olympic Movement, reflecting Africa’s growing influence on the international sports stage. These included: Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA); Ms Baklai Temengil, President of Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC); Mr Keith Joseph, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC); Mr James Macleod, IOC Director of NOC Relations, Olympic Solidarity and Olympism 365; as well as the Presidents of several International Federations, amongst other distinguished guests.
TWO HISTORIC AGREEMENTS
One of the highlights of the Nagoya meeting was the signing of two landmark agreements.
1. ANOCA–CANOC Cooperation Agreement
ANOCA and the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees formalised a cooperation agreement, opening a new chapter in South-South sports diplomacy. The agreement focuses on the exchange of expertise, consultation on matters of common interest to athletes, and coordination within international Olympic bodies.
2. ANOCA – Yude Shanghai Energy Co. Ltd. Sponsorship Agreement
ANOCA entered into a sponsorship agreement with Yude Shanghai Energy Co. Ltd., a major player in the international energy sector. This marks a giant step in ANOCA’s strategy to diversify its funding sources and enhance its capacity to support athletes and African NOCs.
DAKAR 2026 AT THE FORE
Preparations for Dakar 2026 – the first Olympic event ever to be held on African soil – took centre stage in the discussions. In a gesture of continental solidarity, the Assembly decided to allocate USD 540,000 to support the participation of African NOCs.
Welcoming the inauguration of the YOG Village, President Berraf expressed satisfaction that Dakar 2026 will soon kick off, with promised the infrastructure having been delivered. He also paid a heartfelt tribute to the senior authorities, the youth and the Senegalese people as a whole:
This promise has already become reality: the Dakar Youth Olympic Village has been inaugurated. The facilities built in Senegal are not merely structures of concrete and steel. They are the foundation of a lasting legacy and the tangible symbol of a continent that honours its commitments. I would like to pay a solemn and heartfelt tribute to the highest authorities of the Republic of Senegal, beginning with the President of the Republic, His Excellency Bassirou Diomaye Faye, as well as the government and all institutions, who believed in this pioneering project and mobilised all necessary resources. Senegal has risen to the challenge of this historic undertaking. I also extend my warmest greetings to the Senegalese people, to the youths, and to that cherished tradition of hospitality – the legendary Téranga. From the dedicated volunteers to the families involved in the ‘Road to Dakar’ programme, you are the very soul and living promise of these Games.”
The ANOCA President also highlighted the keen interest shown by the IOC President, Mrs Kirsty Coventry, who encouraged the broadest and most representative African participation possible in these Games.
The meeting took a decision to issue accreditation cards to NOC officials, in a bid to guarantee their presence at this historic event.
The most substantial discussion centred on the issue of recognising the African Games as qualifiers for the Olympic Games. This long-standing request by ANOCA was identified as a key priority by all members, who emphasised its vital importance for future generations of athletes.
This momentum is set to continue, as President Berraf announced, referring to another historic milestone:
“The momentum is building: for the first time in history, our continent will also host the World Athletics Championships. They will take place in Kenya in 2029. A land of legends and exceptional champions, Kenya is proving in turn that Africa excels both in sports achievement and in staging global events. This is a resounding victory for the entire continent and a shining sign of our maturity.”
Progress reports were presented on four continental events scheduled for 2027: the African School Games (Abuja, Nigeria), the African Beach Games (Equatorial Guinea), the African Youth Games (Addis Ababa) and the African Games (Cairo, Egypt).
SOLIDARITY AND APPRECIATION
The Assembly unanimously adopted two motions:
– A motion of gratitude to OCA and President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, for his constant support for sport development in Africa and for his notable presence at this Assembly.
– A motion of support for the IOC and President Kirsty Coventry, the first woman to lead the Olympic Movement. The Assembly expressed warm thanks to the IOC, coupled with unwavering support for Mrs Kirsty Coventry, reflecting ANOCA’s deep trust in and commitment to the values of fairness, inclusion and excellence embodied by the IOC President.
While closing the deliberations, President Mustapha Berraf extended his warmest thanks to “IOC members in Africa for their tireless commitment to African sport at the highest level”. He also thanked “all the participants for the quality of the discussions, the cordial deliberations and the spirit of responsibility that characterised the Assembly deliberations.”
PROACTIVE COOPERATION
On the sidelines, President Mustapha BERRAF met with a number of senior world sport officials, with whom he engaged in in-depth discussions aimed at fostering co-operation within the Olympic Movement.
In this regard, OCA and ANOCA announced that they would jointly organise a cultural event in January 2027. The details were presented by the OCA Director General, Mr Husain Al Musallam, during an OCA-NOCs-ANOCA tripartite meeting held on Saturday 19 September in Nagoya.
This initiative aims to consolidate relations between the two continents and to promote their mutual development, beyond sport, in the fields of culture, education and Olympic values.
Mr Al Musallam stated that the Afro-Asian Cultural Programme will take place in Doha, Qatar, on 26 January 2027, prior to the OCA General Assembly. He recalled that relations between the two continents date back to 1982, and emphasised their shared commitment to advancing the Olympic Movement.
“We will organise this event annually, alternating between the two continents. In 2027, it will be dedicated to culture and music; in 2028, it will focus on a different theme. The programme and the event will be different each year.”
OCA President`, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, welcomed the delegations from Asia and Africa and wished every success to the athletes from the 45 NOCs taking part in the 20th Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, which will continue until 4 October 2026.
For his part, Honourable Mustapha BERRAF said he was very proud of the partnership between Africa and Asia, describing the meeting as a “historic moment”.
The highlight of the event was the arrival of the IOC President, Mrs Kirsty Coventry, who said she was delighted to be back in Asia, describing her presence as an immense honour.
She said she was very excited about watching the competitions and that she was looking forward to seeing how this partnership will take shape, referring to the closer ties between Africa and Asia.
