ANOCA Unveils Robust Athlete Support Programme Ahead of Los Angeles 2028 Olympics

The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has launched an ambitious Athlete Support Programme designed to strengthen Africa’s presence at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 by supporting the continent’s top-performing athletes in their quest for qualification and podium success.

The programme targets elite African athletes and is structured to provide comprehensive financial, technical and logistical assistance, allowing beneficiaries to focus fully on training and high-level competition as they prepare for LA2028. Through this initiative, ANOCA aims to ensure that Africa’s best talent is adequately prepared to compete with the world’s leading athletes on the Olympic stage.

Speaking on the importance of the programme, ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf underscored its strategic value for African sport, noting that sustained and structured athlete support is essential for international success.

"We are convinced that this programme will help strengthen Africa’s presence on the world Olympic stage and inspire the next generation of African athletes,” Berraf said. “I urge African respective states to provide significant support to their athletes. This means providing the necessary resources to help our athletes and Olympic movements prepare adequately and participate extraordinarily in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.”

Berraf also acknowledged the contribution of Olympic Solidarity, which already provides Olympic scholarships to African athletes, emphasizing that ANOCA’s grants under the African Athlete Support Programme are meant to complement existing initiatives. According to him, closer collaboration between ANOCA, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and African states will create greater opportunities and enhance Africa’s prospects for success at LA2028. 

ANOCA has committed a total budget of USD 2 million towards scholarships for the LA2028 Olympic cycle. The Athlete Support Programme is scheduled to officially commence in March 2026, marking the beginning of a focused preparation period for selected athletes across the continent.

Under the programme, supported athletes will benefit from access to appropriate training facilities, discipline-specific expert coaching, regular medical and clinical check-ups, accident and health insurance, board and lodging, pocket allowances, and partial coverage of travel costs related to participation in Olympic qualification events. These interventions are intended to remove common barriers that often limit African athletes’ ability to train and compete at the highest level.

ANOCA has identified seven priority individual sports based on Africa’s historical performances at major international competitions and previous Olympic Games. These are athletics, boxing, judo, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling. However, other Olympic sports included in the LA2028 programme may be considered, provided athletes meet strict eligibility criteria set by ANOCA.

To qualify for support, athletes must meet at least one of the following benchmarks: being a medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; ranking among the world’s top 10 athletes in any of the seven priority sports; or being ranked in the world’s top 10 in an Olympic discipline as of 31 December 2025.

ANOCA points to the strong impact of its scholarship programme during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as clear evidence of the initiative’s effectiveness. In the lead-up to Paris 2024, a total of 49 athletes from various African NOCs received financial, technical and logistical support. Of these, 33 athletes qualified for the Games, translating into an impressive 67 per cent qualification rate.

The results in Paris were particularly notable. Eight supported athletes went on to win a combined 10 Olympic medals across athletics, pentathlon, swimming and taekwondo. Africa excelled in athletics, securing two gold and three silver medals, further cementing the continent’s reputation as a global powerhouse in the discipline.

These achievements drew praise from sports leaders worldwide. Reflecting on the Paris 2024 outcomes, Berraf remarked that the performances demonstrated “Africa’s immense potential when supported by structured and ambitious initiatives.”

Looking ahead to Los Angeles 2028, ANOCA believes the renewed scholarship and athlete support framework will place African athletes in optimal conditions to deliver even stronger performances. The organisation has therefore encouraged all NOCs with eligible athletes to actively participate in the programme to ensure that their athletes receive timely and adequate support. With the LA2028 Olympic cycle now firmly underway, ANOCA’s Athlete Support Programme stands as a key pillar in Africa’s broader strategy to enhance competitiveness, expand representation, and deliver medal-winning performances that reflect the continent’s growing strength in global sport.