Twenty (20) International Technical Officials (ITOs), nationals of English-speaking and French-speaking African countries participated from March 2 to 5, 2020 in a seminar in Dakar on the "strategies for the organization of an athletics competition".

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Togolese Ministry of Sports through the Togolese Athletics Federation, sent a message to the President of the African Athletics Confederation to convey the concerns of the Togolese Government regarding the organization of CAA events which were planned in Lomé, from April 6 to 8, 2020.

Also, by email dated March 11, 2020, the CAA has been informed by many of our national federations of their government authorities’ ban on participation in international competitions.

Faced with this new situation, the CAA President, in consultation with members of the Executive Board, took the decision to postpone the African Cross-Country Championships of Togo until 2021 and the Council meeting until new date to avoid any threat on these events planned in Togo and preserve the health of our athletes and members.

Lamine FATY The Chief Executive Officer

Burkina’s Hugues Fabrice Zango and Gambia’s Gina Bass carry the hopes of African athletics on their shoulders. Still unknown to the big public, some time ago, they burst the screen during the 2019 season by appearing on the big scenes around the world.
For this season, the Algiers African Championships and the Olympics are the targets for the two new African stars.

Managers of the African Athletics Development Center (AADC) in Dakar have taken stock of more than a year of existence and identified prospects.

 
The African Athletics Development Center (AADC) of Dakar, set up by CAA, following the decentralization policy by World Athletics (ex-iaaf), opened its doors since December 2018 to eleven residents from Burkina Faso,

The African Athletics Development Center in Dakar (AADC) has signed a partnership agreement with a management company with the ambition to give its athletes the opportunity to participate in “the biggest meetings” and to have «substantial income. »

As a prelude to the 6th edition of the African cross-country championship scheduled for April 8 in Togo, Agopomé Kodjovi Raphael, member of the local organizing committee, is very confident.

How is Togo preparing for the event?

The event consists of two parts. There is the CAA Council meeting which will take place on April 6 and 7. In this regard, the CAA president, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum paid a visit to Togo from January 19 to 22, 2020. He had a meeting with the Minister of Sport, the Prime Minister and Head of Government and the President of the Republic of Togo. This is to reassure you that Togo is preparing in an exceptional way to welcome the elite of African athletics.

Do you have the necessary means to welcome all participants?

Yes. I can reassure you about this. For the organization of this cross-country, the Confederation of African Athletics has decided to support the organizing country with a grant of 50,000 dollars. With the reputation of my country to be good organizer, the government has decided to put at the disposal of the organization an amount which is almost 10 times what CAA gave. (Editor's note: we can estimate it to CFA francs 250, 000,000). This means that there is a national will embodied by the President of the Republic, Faure Eyadema to make this event an exceptional moment.

Is the Togolese Federation able to meet all expectations...?

I can say yes. But this is not only a matter for the Togolese Federation. Togo being aware of the fact that the organization of this competition is a very important event which will see the presence of CAA and World Athletics’ authorities, has taken up the challenge to host this continental competition in Togolese dignity and tradition. All members of CAA, World Athletics and those involved in African athletics will be warmly welcomed. The federation will be 100% ready.

Will Togo be represented, and how are the athletes preparing?
Indeed, Togo will be represented. Sure, our country is not a country used to winning the African cross country championships but we want to be part of this competition with dignity. This is why Togo has decided since December to regroup athletes who will participate in this competition. They started training to better approach this competition.

Who are these athletes?

There is Moise Ba Kombaté, a regular in all middle and long distance races in the sub-region. He has several times won the middle distance tournament in Burkina Faso, Dakar and even in Côte d'Ivoire. In women, there will be Maiza Alimine who won three times the Dakar marathon. Besides, there will be other athletes selected by the National Technical Director (Dtn). They will all be at the Lomé African Athletic Development Center for preparation.

Will the elections in Togo not have an impact on competition?

No. Because at the beginning, the competition was scheduled from February 28 to March 1 and taking into account the elections which are scheduled for February 22, 2020, this date was postponed to April 6, 7 and 8, 2020. And when the Chief of State was contacted by President Kalkaba, he decided to get involved and invest himself fully for the success of this event. Because it is a gift to the Togolese Youth. You well know that Africans are the best in cross-country worldwide. So what could be more normal than encouraging such initiatives? It is an honor for the Republic of Togo which expects very positive input. The President of the Republic and his people want to offer all African Youth a quality show

How is mobilization done?

The President of the Republic himself solemnly appealed to all Togolese people to come massively to this competition.
By Anicet Zio

For the first time, the Confederation of African Athletics nominated the best African athletes of the continent for the year 2019. CAA also nominated thebest African coach and the best African Technical official of the year.

BEST WOMEN ATHLETES

BRIGID KOSGEI KEN Marathon 2.14 :04 WR Chicago 2019

BEATRICE CHEPKOECH KEN 3000 m S/C 8 :57.84 CR Doha 2019

HELLEN OBIRI KEN 5000 m 14 :26.72 CR Doha 2019

HALIMAH NAKAAYI UGA 800 m 1 :58.04 NR Doha 2019

RUTH CHEPNGETICH KEN Marathon 2.32 :43 Doha 2019

BEST MEN ATHLETES

TIMOTHY CHERIUYOT KEN 1500 m 3 :29.26 Doha 2019

CONSESLUS KIPRUTO KEN 3000 m S/C 8 :01.35 WL Doha 2019

JOSHUA CHEPTEGEI UGA 10 000 m 26 :48.36 WL Doha 2019

MUKTAR EDRIS ETH 5000 m 12 :58.85 Doha 2019

LELISA DESISA ETH Marathon 2.10 :40 Doha 2019

BEST YOUNG FEMALE ATHLETES

GUDAF TSEGAY ETH 1997 1500 m 3 :54.38 Doha 2019

LETESENBET GIDEY ETH 1998 10 000 m 30 :21.23 Doha 2019

TSEHAY GEMECHU ETH 1998 5000 m 14 :29.60 Doha 2019

TOBI AMUSAN NGR 1997 100 m Haies 12.48 Doha 2019

PERUTH CHEMUTAI UGA 1999 3000 m SC 9 :11.08 Doha 2019

BEST YOUNG MALE ATHLETES

LAMECHA GIRMA ETH 2000 3000 m S/C 8 :01.36 NR Doha 2019

YOMIF KEJELCHA ETH 1997 10 000 m 26 :49.34 Doha 2019

RHONEX KIPRUTO KEN 1999 10 000 m 26 :50.32 Doha 2019

SELEMON BAREGA ETH 2000 5000 m 12 :59.70 Doha 2019

BEST AFRICAN COACH: Hussen Shibo Chrfe (Ethiopie)

BEST AFRICAN TECHNICAL OFFICIAL : Mohamed Wahab ( Maroc)

Le président de la Confédération africaine d’athlétisme (CAA), Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, a séjourné au Togo du 19 au 22 janvier 2020, dans le cadre des préparatifs des 6èmes championnats d’Afrique de cross country prévus le 8 avril à Lomé. Il était accompagné respectivement de Lamine Faty, Directeur Général et Aziz Daouda, Directeur Technique et du Développement.

But the highlight of the visit was the audience given to President Kalkaba by the President of the Republic Faure Eyadema. The CAA greatly appreciated the decision of the Togolese Head of State to support the activities of the African Athletics Development Center in Lomé as well as the option for holding the African U Championships 18 and U 20 in 2023. The Togolese authorities, through Prime Minister Komi Selor Klassou and Minister of Sports Katari Folly Bazi, who gave a warm welcome to the CAA delegation assured their full support for the Togolese federation athletics for the success of the 6th edition of the African cross country championships. President Kalkaba also took advantage of his stay to pay a visit to the residents of the AADC in Lomé led by Rafael Agopomé.

The first meeting of the new CAA Council is scheduled for April 7, followed by the African cross country championship on April 8.

The President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, will be staying in Togo from 19th to 22nd January 2020 as part of preparations for the 6th Africa cross country championships scheduled for April 8 in Lomé. He will be accompanied respectively by Lamine FATY, the Chief Executive Officer and Mr Aziz Daouda, the Technical and Development Director.

The CAA delegation will carry out a technical inspection of the sites and sign the MoU regarding the organization of the event. Thus, for four days, President Kalkaba and his colleagues will work with the Togolese authorities on the challenges to be met for a success of this first continental meeting of the 2020 season, initially scheduled for March 1, then postponed upon request by the Togolese Government which had just set the date of their presidential elections for February 22, 2020. Given this electoral period which will continue until the end of March 2020, it was strongly recommended by the local authorities to postpone the event to ensure all the participation and organization conditions.

CAA officials will take the opportunity of this visit in Togo to prepare the first meeting of the new Council put in place after the Abidjan elections last April. The council meeting is scheduled for April 7, followed by the African cross country championship on April 8.

The CAA awards 2019 in Lomé

In Togo, the Confederation of African Athletics will, for the first time, nominate the best African athletes of the continent for the year 2019. CAA will also proceed to the nomination of the best African coach and the best African Technical official of the year.

This tradition will be continued as part of the CAA development strategy and following the decisions made at the Abidjan Congress.