Concerns have emerged ahead of the 2026 CAA African Senior Athletics Championship (SAC) in Accra after Egypt’s high jump and triple jump coach, Hasham Aly, raised alarm over what he described as inadequate food and water supply for athletes and officials.
Speaking exclusively to Vault Sports ahead of the opening ceremony on Monday, the Egyptian coach expressed frustration over conditions at the competition venue and athletes’ camp before the start of the championship on Tuesday, May 12.
According to Aly, several athletes have struggled to access enough food and drinking water despite the physically demanding nature of their preparations.
The coach was visibly upset during a heated exchange with officials responsible for water distribution at the warm-up track at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, where the continental competition will be staged.
Aly claimed that meals often run out before all athletes are served, leaving many without adequate nutrition as they prepare for competition. “Food is always finished,” he said while describing the situation confronting athletes since their arrival in Ghana.
He explained that even when food is available, portions are often too small for elite athletes who require proper nutrition to recover and perform at the highest level.
“You want chicken and it’s little or finished. You want fish and it’s finished.”
Hasham Aly
Concerns Over Athlete Welfare
The Egyptian coach insisted that a championship of such magnitude should not be associated with logistical problems involving basic athlete welfare.
According to him, the standards expected at a continental athletics competition should guarantee sufficient food, water and general comfort for participating delegations.
The CAA African Senior Athletics Championship is one of the continent’s premier sporting competitions and brings together some of Africa’s finest track and field athletes. This year’s championship has attracted competitors from across the continent, many of whom are using the event as part of preparations for major international tournaments over the next two years.
The competition also offers athletes an important opportunity to improve rankings and secure qualification standards ahead of the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
Several athletes and officials from different countries have already arrived in Accra for the competition, with events set to begin on Tuesday following Monday’s opening ceremony. Ghana is hosting the championship at the newly developed sports facilities at the University of Ghana which hosted the 2023 African Games, with expectations high for a successful organization of the continental event.
However, Aly’s comments have now cast a spotlight on organizational and welfare concerns just hours before competition officially begins. The remarks are likely to increase pressure on organizers to address the reported shortages quickly in order to avoid further complaints from athletes and officials.
Athlete welfare remains a critical aspect of major sporting events, particularly in athletics where recovery, hydration and nutrition play a significant role in performance.
With hundreds of athletes expected to compete over the coming days, organizers will be hoping to resolve the concerns swiftly to ensure attention remains on the competition itself rather than off-track issues.
The opening ceremony of the championship is scheduled for Monday, May 11, while competitive events will commence the following day at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon.
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