The University of Ghana, Legon Boundary, Accra, has won the 2023 edition of West African Universities Games (WAUG) Championship, hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun.
The university won 10 Gold, Eight Silver and three Bronze medals to emerge winner of the championship.
The University of Education, Winneba Ghana, came second with six Gold, four Silver and four Bronze medals ahead of Benson Idahosa University, Edo which came third with six Gold, two Silver and two Bronze medals.
Receiving the first place trophy on behalf of the institution, Dr Bella Bello Bitugu, the Director of Sports of the University, dedicated the trophy to one of their athletes, who lost his mother on Wednesday.
Bitugu said the athlete, Oyeyemi Johnson, whose father is of Nigerian origin and Ghanaian mother, received the sad news while participating in the games.
In his closing address, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appreciated all the participants and wished them journey mercies to their various destinations.
Bamire congratulates all the medalists, saying the most important lesson of the games is for the participants to strive for greater heights.
Also speaking, Shaibu Tanko, WAUG President, thanked all the universities that participated at the games, urging the athletes to inspire the world.
Tanko said that the games, for the first time, conducted its elections, which produced him as the president to pilot its affairs for the next four years.
He, thereafter , appealed to stakeholders to give him and his executive the needed support to move the university sports in West Africa to the next level.
The Championship started on Dec. 15 with athletes from 20 universities in Nigeria and Ghana participated at the games.
Events being competed for at the games include table tennis, athletics, tennis and basketball
WAUG, also known as the ECOWAS Students Games, is a multi-sport event between student-athletes from West African universities.
The first edition of the competition was held in 1965 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university.
WAUG Final: Participants express satisfaction, say competition foster unity
Meanwhile, participants at the WAUG Championship have expressed satisfaction over the competition, saying the aim of the games was achieved.
Some of the participants who spoke at the closing of the games on Thursday, said the aim of the competition was to foster friendship among the participating athletes, and not necessarily winning medals.
Mrs Funmi Otegbeye, Head Coach of University of Lagos Team, said the competition was not about winning, but rather about interacting and making friends to foster unity.
“The competition is not about winning, it is about friendship. I am sure the athletes have made good friends from other universities and with their colleagues from Ghana”, she said.
Mrs Eunice Adebayo-James, the Director of Sports, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, said her institution participated in all the four events of the competition.
Adebayo-James said her university won a six Gold, two silver and two bronze medals.
“Our students came to show their talents and God has given them the grace to excel”, she said.
Ajijola Oluchi, a coach from Lagos State University said her university won six medals, four silvers and two bronze.
Oluchi, however, berated the host for what she described as improper arrangements made for her team.
She claimed that the alleged poor arrangement affected the performances and results of her team at the competition.
Samuel Kojo Whyte, a coach from the University for Development Studies, Tamale Ghana, said his team won a total of 13 medals.
Kojo Whyte said they won three Gold, four silver and six bronze medals in the track and field events.
He said the athletes had good time as they interacted with their colleagues from other universities.
Eric Annobil, a student from the University, who won Gold in the men`s 110 metre hurdles and 4x 100 and 4 x 400 metres relay, said he had a wonderful experience during the competition.
“I made friends and enjoyed the local delicacies like, Amala, Moimoi and Eba.
“The essence of the competition is for socialising and friendship and we had that experience,” he said.
Ms Efemena Owraigo, a student of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, said she was able to make friends with students from Ghana and other universities in Nigeria.
“This is how it is suppose to be, you are suppose to mix up with other people, meet with people from other countries.
“I made a lot of friends and having fun, meeting with other people from other African countries” she said.
The WAUG Championship, started on Dec. 15 with athletes from 20 universities in Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal are participating at the games.
Events being competed for at the games included table tennis, athletics, tennis and basketball
WAUG, also known as the ECOWAS Students Games, is a multi-sports event between student-athletes from West African universities.
The first edition of the competition was held in 1965 at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university.
