A major tragedy was narrowly avoided on Saturday, July 19, 2025, when a vehicle transporting members of the Tunisian delegation to the ongoing CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championship in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, was involved in a serious road accident along Kobape Road.
Incident Details
The delegation was traveling from the MKO Abiola Sports Arena to the Games Village when their vehicle, not accompanied by the required safety and support convoy, crashed, putting athletes and officials at significant risk.
Immediate Response
- Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who happened to be passing by the scene, immediately initiated first response assistance and coordinated the rescue effort.
- Injured athletes were promptly transported to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta for first aid and later moved to another facility for comprehensive treatment.
- The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, and Governor Abiodun personally supervised medical care for the affected athletes.
Official Reactions
- The NSC stressed that athlete safety remains its utmost priority and issued an official statement expressing “deepest sympathies” to the injured athletes, their colleagues, families, and the entire Tunisian delegation.
- The commission also praised the Ogun State Government, medical teams, and security agencies for their swift, effective response.
Championship Overview
- The 2025 CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championship in Abeokuta features over 500 athletes from 50+ African nations and runs from July 16 to July 20, 2025.
- Despite this alarming incident, the event continues, with Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya vying for top positions on the medals table.
This near-miss highlights ongoing concerns about transportation safety for international sporting events in Nigeria. The prompt intervention by state officials prevented what could have been a severe casualty event, and the response has been widely commended across the sporting community.
