Nigeria has emerged as the winner of the bid to host the 2026 edition of the All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), a biennial continental ladies’ golf championship in Africa.
The President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), Evelyn Oyome, who led the Nigerian delegation to the 16th edition of the championship in Morocco, announced that Nigeria beat several countries to win the hosting bid.
“A total of 38 countries registered, but 20 countries made it to the finals. Out of the 20 countries that voted during the election for the next host of the tournament, Nigeria obtained the lion’s share of the votes,” Oyome said.
Nigeria has previously hosted the AACT in 1996 and 2010, and this will be the third time the country will be hosting the championship. The West and Central Africa Challenge Trophy, a regional version of the championship, was also held in Nigeria at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estates and Resort in Lagos in 2023.
Oyome revealed that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be the host city for the AACT 2026 edition, with over 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.
The Nigerian team, which participated in the 16th edition of the championship in Morocco, finished 12th overall, but emerged as the top team from West Africa. Nnenna Ahube, a member of the Nigerian team, expressed her excitement about the experience, despite the challenges faced by the team.
“For me personally, it was my first time playing in 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,” Ahube said.
Ahube emphasized the need for early training and preparation, as well as sponsorship, to improve the team’s performance in the next edition.
The AACT 16th edition was won by Morocco, who hosted the championship for the first time. The Moroccan national women’s team won the championship with a total score of -7, ahead of South Africa by two shots (-5). Kenya finished third in the competition (+7).
