With a haul of nine medals, (seven gold and two silver), the Nigerian Army emerged the overall winner of the just concluded 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition (AFISSC).
The games took place at the Defence Headquarters Sports Complex, Mogadishu Military Cantonment, Abuja, on Thursday.
To emerge overall champion, the NA clinched first positions in cross country, Taekwondo and Volleyball in both male and female categories, while its male athletes came second in basketball and football. The NA became champion.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were runners-up in the competition, securing first positions in football and basketball, as well as third positions in cross country, Taekwondo and volleyball all in the male categories, while in the female categories, the NAF came second in cross country and basketball as well as third position in Taekwondo. On the whole, the NAF pulled off two gold, three silver and four bronze medals in the competition.
The Nigerian Navy (NN) emerged third in the competition with a total of four silver and five bronze medals as the Service came second in the male categories of cross country, taekwondo and volleyball as well as third positions in basketball and football. The NN female athletes came second in taekwondo and third positions in cross country, basketball and volleyball.
Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) CFR, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the closing ceremony, commended the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) for the successfully hosting of the championship.
The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Army Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Mr Sunday Attah affirmed that, “the objective of the competition, which is to reinforce the existing cordial working relationship between members of the Armed Forces, has been achieved.” He lauded the initiative of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen LEO Irabor NAM, for creating the platform and enabling environment for hosting the sporting fiesta.
Maj Gen Magashi reiterated the commitment of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN), President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, in ensuring the welfare and provision of all necessary enablement for the AFN to function effectively and professionally.
The Defence Minister urged the military not to rest on its oars, but to remaining steadfast, professional and committed to its constitutional responsibilities.
The CDS, Gen Lucky Irabor, who was represented by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, commended the athletes that won laurels while displaying camaraderie and team spirit throughout the competition.
According to Gen Irabor, “the level of sportsmanship exhibited during the competition further gives credence to the premium placed by the AFN on activities geared towards enhancing the combat readiness of its personnel”.
The Defence Chief maintained that, the AFN has continued to evolve in the area of joint training with emphasis on physical fitness training and sports. He stressed that, personnel who are ‘fit-to-fight’, couple with the massive reequipping of the AFN, have been crucial in dealing with the contemporary security challenges bedeviling the nation.
Gen Irabor however, urged the athletes to sustain and strengthen their winning skills in order to be victorious in subsequent competitions, especially the forthcoming World Military Sports Championship in Beja, Portugal in October 2022. Gen Irabor expressed appreciation of members of the AFN for what he described as, “the tremendous support by the Federal Government to the operational and welfare needs of the AFN.”
