University student athletes from all over Africa gathered in the East African city of Nairobi, in Kenya for the 10th FASU (Federation of Africa University Sports) Games, which took place at Kenyatta University from 6th to 10th June, after being postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19.

The All-Africa University Games - FASU Games - are organized once every two years as the flagship event with nine editions having been held. FASU games trace its history to 1951 when two West African Universities, namely University of Ghana and the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in a quest to foster brotherhood and positive competition, started a bilateral annual sporting competition.

For FASU (Federation of Africa University Sports) this was the third edition of the games to feature athletes competing for their universities, as opposed to competing for their nations.

More than 1,450 athletes, aged 17-25 and 260 officials representing 48 universities from 14 countries were present at Kenyatta University and the athletes village.

As part of the opening ceremony on 6 June, Nyayo Student Village, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Margaret Kenyatta welcomed athletes to Kenya and FISU Acting President, Mr. Leonz Eder wished participants a great competition and invited them to attend future FISU events. FASU President Ms. Nomsa Mahlangu addressed participants by saying, “Sport is more than sport, it is not only about competing and winning medals, it is about building communities.” Other guests included Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University, Prof. Paul K. Wainaina, Chairman Council of Kenyatta University, Prof. Shem E. Migot-Adholla, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage Amb. Amina Mohamed, and President of the Kenya University Sports Federation Mr. Babu Murithi. The opening ceremony featured a flag ceremony as a way of representation of all the universities participating.

The 12 sports disciplines that took part in the games were: athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, handball, karate, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball. Besides these, five demonstration sports, such as:  woodball, roll ball, goalball, sitting volleyball and Gurasumo, a Kenyan, Borana traditional game, were also part of this year’s FASU Games.

Fasu Games were used as a way to qualify Africa’s representative teams to the FISU University World Cup Soccer 2023 to be held in Jinjiang, China. This year's spot was won by Kenyatta University. 

Part of FASU Games programme were the Vice Chancellors Forum and FISU-FASU-NUSF Seminar, that took place at the Language and Cultural Center, at the Kenyatta University, on 7 of June. On both of these events the participants looked at the role of sports in achieving national development and a healthy society, and it was highlighted what needs to be done to improve University Sports Development in Africa and were given recommendations when it comes to professionalizing sports; adopting the integration of sporting activities and forums; and organizing sports events at regional levels to increase the number of participating universities. 

FASU games besides awarding medals to winning teams and individuals will also present trophies to the universities that win the medal tally for women, men, and combined. Additionally, national federations whose universities have the highest medal tally will also receive trophy recognition. 

The total medal tally of the 10th FASU Games was dominated by Egypt with 87 total medals, followed by Uganda with 75 total medals and Ghana with 49 total medals. The closing ceremony happened on 10 of June, with which the event was officially closed.

The 11th edition of the games will be hosted in Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire) in 2024.

For more information, please see www.africauniversitysports.com.