The 2023 African Games will feature MMA for the first time ever, a move that could ultimately pave the way for an Olympic debut.
Organizers for the event, which was originally scheduled to take place in August until being shifted to 2024, will feature mixed martial arts alongside other debuting sports, including e-sports, speedball, sambo, and teqball. Ben Nunoo Mensah, the President of the Ghanaian National Olympic Committee, confirmed that 25 sports in total will be represented at the games, as 15 Olympic sports will join 10 non-Olympic sports.
“Adding MMA into the program of sports is a very positive sign that Africa is ready to welcome the newer sports and those sports that have a great global interest.