Celebrating 2024: March’s Golden Moments

Our Celebrating 2024 Campaign continues to dazzle, with another month of extraordinary achievements from Africa’s finest athletes.

March delivered record-breaking victories and inspiring performances, showcasing Africa’s depth of talent across a wide range of sports.

From commanding performances at the African Games to podium sweeps at the Tokyo Marathon, this month was packed with standout moments.

Let’s dive into March’s incredible highlights and celebrate the athletes who left an indelible mark on the world stage.

African Games: Dominance Across the Continent

March was all about African pride at the African Games, where athletes from across the continent put their talent and determination on full display.

Egypt emerged as the undisputed champions, dominating the medal tally with an awe-inspiring total of 193 medals — including a remarkable 102 gold, 47 silver, and 42 bronze.

This achievement reaffirmed Egypt’s standing as a sporting powerhouse and demonstrated the country’s commitment to excellence across various disciplines.

Nigeria followed closely with 121 medals, showing their strength in athletics, where they clinched 11 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze medals, while South Africa added 106 medals to their impressive haul, excelling particularly in swimming with 17 gold, 16 silver, and 13 bronze.

Algeria shone in badminton and cycling, while Zimbabwe captured gold in cricket, and Uganda dominated the Rugby Sevens, taking gold in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Tunisia made its mark in taekwondo and judo, while Egypt‘s athletes displayed prowess in table tennis, weightlifting, volleyball, and wrestling, further showcasing the nation’s incredible depth across sports.

The African Games highlighted the fierce competition between nations and the sheer athletic brilliance seen across the continent, with standout performances that left fans in awe.

Photo: @AfricanGamesTwitter

World Indoor Championships: Africa’s Strength in Track & Field

The World Indoor Championships saw African athletes continue their dominance on the global stage. Africa secured an impressive total of 8 medals — 3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze—proving once again that the continent’s athletes are a force to be reckoned with in indoor track and field.

From thrilling sprints to dramatic finishes, African athletes demonstrated their competitive edge, making their presence felt with commanding performances that left an indelible impression on the championships.

Tokyo Marathon: Continuing Long-Distance Dominance

Africa’s long-distance runners continued their winning streak at the Tokyo Marathon, where athletes from the continent once again dominated both the men’s and women’s categories.

With spectacular victories, African runners proved their mettle in one of the world’s most prestigious marathons.

Their remarkable endurance, speed, and tactical brilliance on the streets of Tokyo cemented Africa’s place at the forefront of long-distance running, reinforcing the continent’s reputation as a global leader in marathon racing.

Basketball Africa League (BAL): Kalahari Conference Heats Up

March also brought thrilling action from the Basketball Africa League (BAL) as the Kalahari Conference tipped off in Pretoria, South Africa.

The competition featured FUS de Rabat, Petro de Luanda, Cape Town Tigers, and Dynamo BBC, offering spectators riveting games filled with electrifying moments.

The conference kicked off on March 9th, with FUS de Rabat claiming an 82-73 victory over Petro de Luanda, while the Cape Town Tigers played a critical role in shaping the standings.

On March 16th, the Tigers secured a key win against Petro de Luanda, but fell to FUS de Rabat on March 17th. At the close of the conference, FUS de Rabat topped the standings, with Petro de Luanda coming in second.

Both teams secured their spots in the BAL Playoffs and Finals, setting the stage for an exhilarating showdown in Kigali, Rwanda.

Athlete Profiles and App Growth: Expanding Our Community

Behind the scenes, our platform continued to grow and evolve throughout March. We imported 560 additional athlete profiles, bringing the total number of built and ready-to-be-claimed profiles to 3,075.

We also secured a partnership with The Cape Town Tigers as well as an interviewing their vice-captain Leseba Sepele.

Additionally, we featured interviews with Rea Phume and Coach Pholo, as well as para-athlete Tezna Abrahams, further strengthening our connection to athletes across multiple disciplines.

Stay Tuned for April’s Highlights in the Celebrating 2024 Campaign

March brought us a wealth of memorable moments, but the journey doesn’t stop here!

DOWNLOAD the Podium Pursuit Fan App and stay connected as we take you through the standout performances and achievements from April, where African athletes continued to dominate their respective sports.

Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s episode of our Celebrating 2024 Campaign and join us in cheering on Africa’s best as they make history!

Brought to you by

PROTOUCH AFRICA is a purpose-led and Sports Tech business founded in 2016 with a focus on enabling African Athletes to perform on the World Stage.

It is pioneering new ways for fans to interact and engage with their favourite teams, leagues, and athletes and enable alternative revenue streams.

ProTouch Africa’s Podium Pursuit Project is focused on creating a transparent and sustainable funding mechanism for the next generation of African Athletes. Its vision is to launch the World’s first fan-owned impact investment platform for African Athletes in 2024 by assembling an ecosystem of top-performing athletes, their fans, and the brands that support them.