2015 All Africa Games kicks off

50 years after hosting the first edition of the All Africa Games in 1965, Brazzaville hosts the 11th edition of the competition. The opening ceremony took place on Friday September 4, at the Kintélé stadium (a brand new 60,000 seaters built infrastructure) fifteen kilometers north of the Congolese capital.

Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo, attended the official kick off opening these "Jubilee Games". At his side, in the stands, were some African leaders: Catherine Samba-Panza (Central Africa), Bongo (Gabon), Manuel Pinto da Costa (Sao Tome), Faure Gnassingbe (Togo) and the South African Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, President of the African Union Commission (AU). Cameroonian side, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Amadou Ali, represented the head of State.

The Cameroonian delegation, consisting of 174 athletes, marched with flag bearer Christine Manie, Captain of the women's football team, along with 50 other members of the African Union countries participating in this sporting event. This will last for two weeks until September 19.

The program includes 23 sports. In addition, two typical Congolese sports, "nzango" and "boxing of the Pharaohs" were demonstrated. The first exclusively female discipline combined of dance, gymnastics and song while boxing pharaohs, reserved for men, is a martial art rising in Congo for 40 years on the basis of an Egyptian ancient struggle.

In sporting terms, the trials of foil, saber and sword awarded the first medals of the tournament. It falls by the domination of the countries of North Africa (Egypt and Tunisia). Cameroon women's football team will take the stage today.

They will be opposed to South Africa in the women's tournament, while Nigeria will take on Côte d'Ivoire, the two other globalists, were present. The trials of boxing and weightlifting, which also have Cameroonian athletes, will also start today.

But already in volleyball, Cameroon men's and women's teams have beaten Cape Verde and Ghana respectively liable to their starts, with a score of 3 sets to 0.