Nigeria to host Chovken African regional championship

African Region of the International Chovken Federation (ICF) has confirmed that Nigeria will host the 2025 Chovken African regional championship in Nigeria.  A statement by Joessef Karim, Media Assistant to the Chairman of the federation, Nura Sani Kangiwa, stated this on Wednesday. Joessef Karim said  Kangiwa disclosed this when he led a delegation of Nigeria […]

African Region of the International Chovken Federation (ICF) has confirmed that Nigeria will host the 2025 Chovken African regional championship in Nigeria. 

A statement by Joessef Karim, Media Assistant to the Chairman of the federation, Nura Sani Kangiwa, stated this on Wednesday.

Joessef Karim said  Kangiwa disclosed this when he led a delegation of Nigeria Chovken Association executive members on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of National Sports Commission, Alhaji Shehu Dikko, on Wednesday.

Nigeria came third at the maiden International Chovken Championship held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from June 12th to 16th, 2024, with participation of ten countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Poland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Malta, and Nigeria.

• How Plateau traders lost over N1bn to midnight inferno
• N/Central governors mull joint security operations

Chovken is an equestrian team sport with historical roots and striking resemblance to the popular Polo sport.

The game is played by two teams of four horse riders who drive a small leather ball into an opponent’s goal using curved wooden mallets.

A standard Chovken match consists of two 15-minute halves. UNESCO has recently added Chovken to its prestigious list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity.

Kangiwa, the ICF African regional head of Chovken, assured the Chairman of the National Sports Commission that several African countries Chovken teams would be in Nigeria for the championship including Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, and other leading countries.

He also explained that hosting the African championship in Nigeria would be a huge international publicity for Nigeria and it will equally elicit public interest in Nigerian equestrian sports engagements.

The delegation of Nigerian Chovken Association’s courtesy visit to the National Sports Commission included Abdulkarim Jibril, the President; Abba Kangiwa, the secretary; Muktar Adahama, Treasurer and Tournament Manager; Colonel Yusuf Bello, team Captain; and Abdulmalik Badamasi, Pony welfare.