The American University in Cairo finished top of the overall rankings as Egyptian universities dominated the 12th All-Africa University Games.
The continental university sports competition concluded in Cairo on Wednesday, 16 September, after bringing together more than 2,000 student-athletes and officials.
Organisers said 82 universities from 18 African countries participated in the Games, which featured 18 main sports, four para-sports and three recreational events.
Egyptian Universities lead the standings
Egypt’s delegation topped the combined standings, with the country’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research receiving the overall honour during the closing ceremony.
The American University in Cairo, which entered the competition as the two-time defending continental champion, finished first in the university rankings.
Cairo University secured 57 medals, including 22 gold medals. Capital University collected seven medals-three gold, three silver and one bronze-in fencing and para-badminton.
Mansoura University added six medals across athletics, judo and karate, winning one gold, one silver and four bronze medals.
The results confirmed Egypt’s dominance of the competition while underlining the strength of its university sports programmes. Ahram Online reported that AUC led the overall rankings.
Strong performances from across Africa
Universities from several other African countries also recorded notable results.
The University of Ghana finished with 23 medals—10 gold, eight silver and five bronze—across athletics, badminton and tennis.
Its athletics team won titles in events including the men’s 400 metres, 110-metre hurdles, long jump and relay competitions. The women’s team also secured gold medals in the 200 metres, javelin and 4×400-metre relay.
Nigeria’s Nnamdi Azikiwe University won two silver medals and one bronze. Its women’s football team secured bronze, while additional medals came from the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase and taekwondo.
Uganda’s Nkumba University also enjoyed success, winning the women’s football competition.
Cairo stages a continental gathering
The Games ran from 8 to 16 September under the theme, “One Flame…One Continent.”
Competitions were staged at several venues across Cairo and 6th of October City, with athletics, football, judo, table tennis, karate, wrestling and taekwondo among the sports contested.
The event was organised by the Federation of African University Sports alongside Egypt’s ministries responsible for higher education, youth and sports.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Egyptian higher education officials said the relationships formed during the Games should support greater academic, cultural and sporting cooperation among African universities.
Beyond the medal standings, the competition provided a continental platform for student-athletes and strengthened Cairo’s position as a host of major African sporting events.
