We must be worthy and protective of our young athletes!

Dear NOC  Presidents,
Dear leaders of the African Olympic and Sports Movement,
Dear athletes, coaches and technical managers,
Dear partners in the development of African sports,

While sporting Africa is making history, I wish to convey to each and every one of you a message of commitment, responsibility and hope.

ANOCA, in collaboration with NOCs and continental federations, has been working relentlessly to build an African sport that is fair, transparent and inspiring.

Our young athletes — the hope of our future — deserve clean competitions, equal opportunities and an environment that celebrates merit, talent and integrity.

For fair and unmanipulated sports

We will no longer turn a blind eye to practices that tarnish the image of our African sports: competition manipulation, favouritism, cheating, and especially age fraud inyouthcompetitions.

While these practices are few, they undermine the credibility of our sports institutions and erode the trust of the public, partners and even young people themselves.

It is therefore our shared responibility to say no to all forms of cheating, no to forgery, and no to manipulation.
Sportsmanship is not an option: it is the true spirit of Olympic sports; the very foundation of dignity in sports.

Robust initiatives and lasting commitments

ANOCA reached a historic milestone with the Maiden African School Games inAlgeria, marking a key moment in the training and coaching of young African talents.
We are now gearing up to welcome the Fourth African Youth Games in Angola, another powerful moment of gathering and unity around Olympic values.

And very soon the whole continent will once again vibrate to the rhythm of the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the first-ever edition to be organised on African soil and a powerful symbol of trust, rebirth and hope.

I therefore urge all NOCs, federations and technical managers to strengthen control, training and awareness mechanisms to ensure fairness and integrity in every competition.  Let’s all protect our youths from the pressure of cheating, while encouraging them to embrace the truth, honour, and excellence.

African sports is worthy of respect, admiration and support. No success, however resounding, is worth anything if it is achieved unfairly. Africa can build credible and respected sports, in which each victory is truly synonymous with merit and honour.

United under the banner of Olympism, let’s all make our stadiums, schools and sports centres places where the truth triumphs over fraud, efforts over merit and passion over cheating.

This is the price that sporting Africa must pay to continue to grow in strength, worth and respect.

Together, let’s make sports a tool for development and peace in Africa.  Drawing on our shared values of Excellence, Friendship, and Respect, let’s all build a fair, clean and more inspiring future for African sports.

Mustapha BERRAF
ANOCA President
IOC Member
ANOC Vice President
President of the Olympafrica Foundation