- By Wale Gbadebo
Nigeria has won the bid to host the 2026 edition of the prestigious All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), a major ladies’ golf championship in Africa.
The AACT, which takes place biennially, held its first tournament in May 1992 in Zimbabwe.
Nigeria has hosted the competition twice before: in 1996 at the Ikoyi Club 1938, and again in 2010 at the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja.
The upcoming 2026 event will mark another milestone for Nigeria as it continues to showcase its commitment to promoting golf in the country.
This would be the third time Nigeria will be hosting the championship.
Interestingly, the West and Central Africa Challenge Trophy (a regional version of the championship) was held for the first time in Nigeria at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estates and Resort, Lagos, in 2023.
Evelyn Oyome, the President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria, who was the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the championship’s 16th edition in Morocco, said Nigeria emerged winner amongst the 20 countries that took part in the bidding process.
“Nigeria had earlier hosted the West, Central Africa Challenge Trophy in October last year at the Lakowe Lakes Golf Estate and Resort in Lagos, showcasing its outstanding golfing facilities, with no fewer than 10 countries participating.
“So, hosting that championship successfully last year gave us the edge amongst so many other countries that also bidded and winning was a huge victory for Nigeria,” she said.
Oyome revealed that the Federal Capital Territory would be the host city for the AACT 2026 edition, with no fewer than 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.
Morocco for the first time hosted the AACT 16th edition on the Golf de Tazegzout in Agadir from November 28 to 30.
The Moroccan national women’s team won brilliantly, marking a new stage in the growth of Moroccan golf.
With the participation of 20 nations, including South Africa, holders of 14 of the 15 previous editions, the emblematic competition of African women’s golf saw Morocco shine.
