History was made in Accra, Ghana on Monady March 11 as pickleball makes its debut on the prestigious continental multisport stage at the 13th African Games.
The fast-growing racket sport’s inclusion from March 11th to 15th marks a watershed moment for its expansion across Africa.
When the iconic opening ceremony unfolded on March 8th at Accra’s Black Star Square, it included pickleball athletes proudly marching among Africa’s sporting elite for the very first time. The moment caps years of efforts by the African Pickleball Federation (APF) and national associations to develop the sport continent-wide.
The non-stop pickleball action in Accra runs through March 15th, with men’s and women’s singles and doubles competitions taking place at the newly-constructed Pickleball Park facility.
A total of 19 countries are represented, including the host Ghana, as well as Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, and Benin. With such a diverse field of powerhouse pickleball nations from across the continent, the battle for medals is expected to be intense.
The addition of pickleball to Africa’s “Grand Slam” of multisport events reflects its skyrocketing global growth. The unique sport combining elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong has caught on due to its simplicity and accessibility across ages.
Beyond just the competition, the African Games debut presents opportunities to invest in developing more infrastructure, coaching, and grassroots programs under the APF’s guidance. The long-term goal is to make pickleball a staple in the continent’s sporting fabric.
As Africa’s best picklers from 19 nations battle for continental supremacy March 11-17, the beat of paddles and pop of the plastic ball may just be the start of pickleball’s fabulous African resurgence taking center stage at the Games.
