As events of the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique came to a colourful end, Egypt delivered  a sucker punch on Team Nigeria, dislodging it from second position as Team South Africa expectedly came tops in the Africa Games, Reports Tony Ubani from Maputo

Nigeria and Tunisia, for long, were in the close-knit chase for medals for the second position but the Pharaohs sprung a surprise to overtake Nigeria with just one gold medal, hauling 32 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze medals to Nigeria’s 31 gold, 28 silver and 39 bronze medals. Nigeria finished in third position.

Team South Africa were unchallenged as they topped the medals table with 61 gold, 55 silver and 40 bronze medals.

The Egyptians drew their strength from Taekwondo and Judo to displace Nigeria and Tunisia. Nigeria had also pinned so much hope to get a gold medal from Taekwondo where Chika Chukwumerije fought gallantly with injury to end up with silver. Had he gotten a gold, Nigeria would have finished second since she had more silver and bronze medals than Egypt.

Team Nigeria’s Chef de Mission, Alhassan Yakmut described the country’s outing as very impressive considering the fact that they predicted that the country would finish among the top three countries in the overall medals table.

“Our tactical and technical strategy in the Games was very precise. We predicted that we would be among three top finishers and it came to pass.

This is even more commendable if you recall that the hosts removed the sports like Weightlifting, Wrestling and Power-lifting which are strong Nigerian areas.

These sports account for 19 gold medals which Nigeria in previous Games dominated. Finishing third in a photo-finish with Egypt with these handicaps deserve  commendation”, he said.

Rank    Nation    Gold    Silver    Bronze      Total
1    South Africa    61    55    40         156
2    Egypt    32    14    20           66
3    Nigeria    31    28    39          98
4    Tunisia    29    26    13          68
5    Algeria    22    29    33          84
6    Kenya    14    14    22    50
7    Senegal    8    8    17    33
8    Cameroon    8    5    20    33
9    Ethiopia    6    10    12    33
10    Angola    6    10    10    26
11    Zimbabwe    6    7    2    15
12    Ghana    4    5    7    13

13    Mauritius    4    2    7    13
14    Uganda    4    1    3    8
15    Botswana    2    5    9    16
16    Cote d Ivoire    2    5    8    15
17     Gabon        2    2    1    18    Sudan    2    0    0    2
19    Seychelles    1    4    9    14
20    Mali    1    2    2    5
21    Ruwanda    1    2    0    3

22    Nimibia    1    1    5    7
23    Burkina Fasso    1    0    0    1
24    Mozambique    0    2    3    5
25    Republic of the Congo    0    3    5    8
26    Madagascar    0    2    3    5
27    Zambia    0    1    1    2
28    Tanzania    0    1    0    1

29    Democratic Republic of Congo    0    0    6    6
30    Lesotho    0    0    3    3
31    Niger    0    0    2    2
32    Swaziland    0    0    2    2
33    Libya    0    0    1    1
34    Liberia    0    0    0    1    35    Sao Tome and Principe    0    0    1    1
36    Togo    0    0    1    1            0    1    1