The best athletes from around the world are in Paris today to compete in the 2024 Olympics. This year, more than 10,000 athletes are gathered from about 200 nations (AS). More than 30 African countries have qualified athletes. Egypt leads the way with 123 athletes, followed by 76 from Nigeria and 60 from Morocco. The overall number of African athletes is substantial, showcasing the continent's growing presence on the global sports stage. So with that in mind, we bring you a special edition focus on sports in Africa. Our prediction is that we’ll see a growing number of African-born athletes take center stage at the 2024 Olympics and beyond. Below you’ll find a few to watch out for in Paris. But first, a quick look at the news. 

Too Long: Didn’t Read

• Africa Bond Market - Sovereign index aims to boost African bonds (Bloomberg).

• AI - 49% of AI adoption in Africa is driven by agriculture (FurtherAfrica); Lack of infrastructure needed for AI could leave Africa behind (Economist).

• Angola - U.S. EXIM Bank funds Angola solar initiative in southern provinces (FurtherAfrica); Country revamps oil tax laws (FurtherAfrica).

• Burkina Faso - Military leader's campaign against extremists has left the nation in crisis (New York Times).

• Egypt - Currency plunge halts spending (Bloomberg).

• Ghana - Ghana may limit cocoa supply to increase prices (Bloomberg).

• Gold rush - African nations are rapidly increasing their gold reserves (Bloomberg).

• Kenya - The Kenyan shilling had its worst two weeks since January, but is still Africa’s best-performing currency this year (Bloomberg).

• Health - HIV infections have reduced by 56% since 2010 (Economist)

• Nigeria - Dangote halts steel plant plans over monopoly accusations (Bloomberg); central bank raised interest rates to 26.75% to choke inflation while treasury bills reached a record high yield of 22.1% (Bloomberg).

• Sudan - Sudan restores Iran ties with ambassador swap (Bloomberg).

• Zambia - Country aims to increase copper production (Bloomberg); while fighting food inflation (Bloomberg).

Africa's $20B Sports Opportunity

Graphic of the Week

In Context: Sports in Africa holds significant economic potential, with the sports market expected to reach $20B a year in revenue by 2035. Africa's role as a co-host for the 2030 Men's Football World Cup in Morocco highlights the continent's growing involvement in international sports. This development follows South Africa's hosting of the Women's T20 Cricket World Cup in 2023, the Netball World Cup and Cape Town's Formula E ePrix. South Africa will also co-host the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup with Namibia and Zimbabwe and the return of Formula 1 to Africa is anticipated.

These events provide long-term economic benefits, as demonstrated by South Africa's 2010 FIFA World Cup, which boosted economic growth by 0.4% and added approximately $2.11B to the economy through increased investment and visitor spending.

This growth is driven by a young population and increasing global recognition of African athletes in sports like football, cycling and basketball, among others. Major sporting events, such as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Giants of Africa Basketball Tournament generate revenue and attract global sponsors and advertisers, boosting local economies and enhancing brand exposure.

African Athletes Aim High in Paris

As the Paris 2024 Olympics kick off today, many African athletes are aiming to make history. Here are a few of the African-born stars to watch for:

Track and Field

1. Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa)

   • Event: 400 meters; 4x400 meters relay

   • Highlight: World record holder in the 400 meters and former Olympic champion. After a disappointing finish in Tokyo, he is back in form and aims to reclaim his title.

2. Tobi Amusan (Nigeria)

   • Event: 100-meter hurdles

   • Highlight: Reigning world champion in the women's 100-meter hurdles, she is set to defend her title and add Olympic gold to her accolades.

3. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)

   • Events: 1,500 meters; 5,000 meters

   • Highlight: World record holder in the 1,500 meters, she is a dominant force in middle-distance events and a strong contender for multiple medals. She is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the 1,500 meters and competing in the 5,000 meters as the world champion.

4. Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya)

   • Event: 100 meters

   • Highlight: Africa’s fastest man in the 100 meters, he aims to secure Kenya’s first Olympic sprint medal.

5. Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco)

   • Event: 3,000 meters steeplechase

   • Highlight: Olympic champion in the men’s 3,000 meters steeplechase, he is a favorite to defend his title.

6. Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso)

   • Event: Triple jump

   • Highlight: World champion in the triple jump, aiming for gold after securing bronze in Tokyo.

7. Beatrice Chebet (Kenya)

   • Event: 10,000 meters; 5,000 meters

   • Highlight: World record holder.

8. Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda)

   • Event: 10,000 meters

   • Highlight: World record holder and clear favorite, aiming to add another gold medal to his collection.

9. Djamel Sedjati (Algeria)

   • Event: 800 meters

   • Highlight: He is the third-fastest man in history over the distance, aiming to win gold after missing Tokyo in 2020 due to COVID.

   Read more about African track and field Athletes (Africa ESPN).

Swimming

1. Tatjana Schoenmaker (South Africa)

   • Event: Breaststroke

   • Highlight: Gold and silver medalist in breaststroke events in Tokyo, she is at the peak of her career and a favorite in Paris (SA People News).

Badminton

1. Anuoluwapo Opeyori

   • Highlight: Anuoluwapo Opeyori is a four-time African singles champion, making him the most successful African male badminton player in history. Despite coming from Lagos, Nigeria, which lacks designated badminton facilities, Opeyori aims to become the first African to progress out of the group stage in the Olympic men's singles competition (BBC).

Equestrian

1. Noor Slaoui (Morocco)

   • Event: Equestrian Eventing

   • Highlight: Noor Slaoui is set to become the first competitor from the Middle East and North Africa to participate in eventing at the Olympic Games. She will compete on her horse, Cash In Hand, at the Paris 2024 Olympics (BBC).

Football

1. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

   • Highlight: Achraf Hakimi will represent Morocco at the Olympics, having helped the team qualify by winning the 2023 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

2. Naby Keita (Guinea)

   • Highlight: Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita will captain Guinea as the country’s football team makes its second appearance at an Olympics. Keita aims to add to his current total of 11 goals for his country.

3. Barbra Banda (Zambia)

   • Highlight: Barbra Banda will compete for Zambia at her second Olympic Games, following a record-setting performance in Tokyo with back-to-back hat-tricks in the group stages. She is the NWSL's top scorer and the most highly-paid women’s footballer in history.

Read more about Football at the Olympics (BBC).

These athletes represent a range of disciplines and countries, showcasing the diverse talent that Africa brings to the global stage in Paris 2024. For more detailed updates and information, you can refer to sources such as The South African and BBC Sport.

Explorations in African Sports

Africans Sprint into Cycling’s Spotlight 

This week, Eritrean cyclist Biniam Girmay made headlines by becoming the first black African to win the Tour de France’s green jersey, the competition’s sprinters' award and the second highest honor after the yellow jersey, which is awarded to the overall race leader. Girmay became the first black African to win any stage, marking a significant milestone in a sport traditionally known for its European athletes. Girmay’s accomplishment symbolizes the growing presence and competitiveness of African cyclists and athletes on the global stage.

His success at the Tour, which wrapped up this week, follows earlier achievements, including being the first Black African to win a stage at the Giro d’Italia and a single-day classic at Gent-Wevelgem. Pro Cycling in Africa dates back to the early 1990s when the continent began to produce cyclists who could compete in international events. Three countries stand out: South Africa, Eritrea and Rwanda. Riders from these countries have made a significant impact in international competitions.

South Africa remains a central hub for cycling in Africa, hosting major events like the Cape Epic and the Cape Town Cycle Tour. The country has also seen its cyclists participate in the Olympic Games and other international competitions. However, in recent years, global brands, bike manufacturers and cycling advocates have put their resources and time behind expanding the sport throughout Africa. Today, a number of professional and amateur races occur throughout the continent, namely the Safari Gravel Race series, which takes place throughout Kenyan cities and the Migration Gravel Race, which occurs every summer in the Maasai Mara. Moreover, a new pro team called Team Amani has been formed to help the best riders from Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya rise to the top of the global pro cycling peloton. Importantly, Rwanda will host the first Cycling World Championships ever on the continent in 2025.

Girmay’s victory comes at a time when sports are on the rise in Africa and investments in African sports are growing. According to one estimate, the African sports market could be worth more than $20B a year in revenue by 2035 and investors and governments are taking note.

Basketball: An African Economic Catalyst

Basketball is another emerging and powerful catalyst for economic development across Africa. Masai Ujiri, President of the Toronto Raptors, has been instrumental in growing the sport through his Giants of Africa initiative in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA). Founded in 2003, the program has built basketball infrastructure and hosted camps across the continent. I had the pleasure of attending one of the tournament’s final games this summer in Kigali’s State of the Art BK Arena. The buzz of the crowd was palpable and vendors lined the arena’s concourse selling a variety of food, snacks and beverages. During the 2024 season, BAL’s games reached 1.6 million live viewers online and set a single-season attendance record of more than 80,000 fans (BALAfrica).

Kenya's Stadium Revival

Growing talent and success on the world stage are driving private and public investments into sports, including basketball and football. In 2021, Kenya's Nyayo Stadium, along with Moi International Sports Centre were banned from hosting international matches due to substandard facilities. However, as of 2024, Kenya’s Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum, announced that Nyayo Stadium will re-emerge as a premier venue, ready to host the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The revival of Nyayo Stadium is part of a broader strategy, supported by a substantial budget increase. Kenya's Treasury recently increased its budget for the sports sector to $127M for the upcoming fiscal year, an increase from just $49M the previous year. Funding will support infrastructure development and prioritize hiring top-notch coaches to nurture young talent. 

Rwanda Reaches Global Standards

Similarly, in Rwanda, the iconic Amahoro Stadium, which now defines Kigali’s hilly skyline, reopened on July 1, 2024, after significant renovations requiring a $170M investment. The renovations have propelled the stadium to reach global standards alongside Uganda's Mandela National Stadium and Tanzania's Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which are authorized to host FIFA-standard matches. Rwanda also plays host to Tour du Rwanda, the T20 Cricket tournaments, the Basketball Africa League, the Rwanda Challenger (tennis) among other events. In 2023, Rwanda earned $620M from 1.4 million tourists, a significant percentage of them for sporting events and partnerships (All Africa).

Morocco to Co-Host 2030 World Cup

Africa is also scheduled to host the World Cup in 2030 with Morocco co-hosting alongside Portugal and Spain. The joint bid, known as "Yalla Vamos 2030," highlights Morocco’s commitment to developing top-tier sports infrastructure and boosting tourism. The collaboration between these three nations emphasizes their shared vision for promoting football and the growing relationship between Africa and Europe.

P.S. We hope you enjoyed the Brief! Reach out if you have ideas or feedback ([email protected]). Andrew Larsen led the team this week with contributions from Mary Ann Achieng and Shaynerose Magabi in Kenya. See you next week!