The national university championships finals in Togo are set to take place from November 11 to 13 in Lomé, bringing together nearly 700 athletes and coaches from seven institutions. The event will feature competitions in various disciplines, including football, basketball, volleyball, handball, and athletics. The championships will be held at different venues in Lomé, including the University of Lomé, Olympafrica center, Kégué stadium, and Lomé's omnisports stadium.
A draw ceremony was held on November 4 at the ministry in charge of Youth and Sports to determine the groupings of the different disciplines. Representatives from the qualified institutions and officials from the Directorate of School and University Sports (DISSU) attended the ceremony. The draw aimed to enable teams to fine-tune their preparation for the finals. Seven universities and higher education institutions will participate in the national phase.
The program for the championships includes competitions in multiple disciplines, with the first events scheduled to start on November 11. The official opening ceremony is set for 2:30 pm at the handball field of Lomé's omnisports stadium. Notably, the choice of this infrastructure marks a departure from the usual practice of opening the finals with a football match.
This year's championships have a broader regional participation, with reforms leading to the organization of regional finals. This has allowed institutions from the central and Plateau regions to join the national stage, which was previously dominated by universities from Lomé and Kara. The goal is to consolidate this approach and eventually achieve representation from all regions of Togo.
The University of Lomé, a traditional powerhouse in the championships, aims to defend its titles. Its representative, Espoir Yédibaoma, stated that the institution has prepared with the ambition of retaining its crowns. Meanwhile, the Catholic University, qualified in men's basketball, also has high aspirations. Its representative, Edorh Biova, expressed confidence in the team's chances.
The competition format varies depending on the discipline, with the top two teams in a single pool competing for the title, or the leaders of two groups facing each other in the final. The events will continue on November 12, with finals in several disciplines and the last football matches scheduled at Lomé's omnisports stadium.
The national university championships in Togo have become a significant sporting event, promoting competition and unity among institutions. With a growing participation from various regions, the event is expected to provide a platform for athletes to showcase their talents and for institutions to demonstrate their sporting prowess.
Key points
- Nearly 700 athletes and coaches will compete in the finals of Togo's national university championships.
- The championships will feature competitions in various disciplines, including football, basketball, and athletics.
- The event aims to promote broader regional participation and eventually achieve representation from all regions of Togo.
