Abeokuta to Host Olympic Talent Hunt as CAA, WWS Partner

Abeokuta, Ogun State – The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) is set to launch a groundbreaking Olympic talent identification program right here in Abeokuta, utilizing the 2025 African U18/U20 Championships as its starting point. This ambitious initiative follows a significant partnership between the CAA and World Wide Scholarships (WWS), aimed at nurturing the next generation of African athletic stars.

The collaboration, officially kicking off at the CAA U18/U20 Championships from July 16–20, 2025, will transform Abeokuta into a hub for scouting emerging athletic talent from across the continent. Originally slated for Oran, Algeria, the championships were relocated to Abeokuta due to logistical challenges, a move that now positions the city at the forefront of African athletic development. Over 500 young athletes are expected to converge on Abeokuta for the event.

The agreement, formalized between CAA President Kalkaba Malboum and WWS CEO Munya Maraire, grants WWS the crucial mandate to identify, manage, and develop African athletic talent. A WWS release highlights that this partnership will provide structured pathways for young athletes, covering everything from scouting and training to professional career management and access to vital sponsorships.

“This collaboration aims to identify and develop the next generation of talent for the Olympic Games and World Championships,” the WWS release stated. “It grants WWS the significant mandate to discover and nurture promising young athletes across the African continent.”

Maraire emphasized the comprehensive nature of the program, stating, “We have to get to every different nation, find the talent that is there and give them a plan of development in which WWS will be involved in from A to Z.” He further underscored the goal to reshape African sports, empower athletes for global success, and promote sustainable and inclusive development within the continent.

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Beyond talent identification, the initiative includes plans for establishing regional school academy programs and staging competitive events throughout Africa. Centralized sponsorship and brand development strategies for both the CAA and WWS are also part of this extensive plan.

CAA President Malboum hailed the partnership as a new era for African athletics. He expressed strong confidence that this collaboration will be instrumental in retaining top African talent on the continent, preventing them from seeking opportunities abroad and potentially changing nationalities. “We want to keep our talented athletes on the continent by using all the opportunities that Africa can offer to athletes to prevent them from changing nationality and to prevent them from travelling far away to get high performance training,” he stated.

Malboum added that WWS’s role in athlete management and funding activation will be critical to the program’s financial sustainability. “We are confident that this collaboration will reshape the future of African sports and reinforces our commitment to positioning African athletes for global success,” he concluded.

This strategic partnership is expected to significantly boost the profile of African athletics and provide unparalleled opportunities for young athletes to achieve their Olympic dreams, with Abeokuta playing a pivotal role in this exciting new chapter.