With 19 days to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT), former Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) President and AACT Trustee for West and Central Africa, Ekanem Ekwueme, has described winning the prestigious continental championship as a matter of national pride.

Ekwueme said the tournament, widely regarded as the “Nations Cup” of women’s golf, offers participating golfers an opportunity to represent their countries, defend their national honour and secure a place in African golf history.

According to her, the experience of competing at the championship extends beyond the tournament itself, leaving players with lasting memories and strengthening their connection to the sport and their national teams.

She noted that representing one’s country at a major continental competition is a special privilege, while lifting the trophy represents the ultimate reward for players and their national golf communities.

The 2026 edition, scheduled for November 2 to 7 at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja, is expected to attract strong competition as participating countries battle for one of the most coveted titles in African women’s amateur golf.

Ekwueme anticipates a fiercely contested championship, pointing to the experience, talent and pedigree of several countries expected to challenge for the trophy.

South Africa, a multiple winner of the competition, is expected to be among the leading contenders as it seeks to maintain its impressive record in African women’s golf.

Egypt and Morocco are also expected to pose strong challenges, having previously hosted and won the championship. Their achievements, Ekwueme believes, demonstrate how countries can combine the opportunity of hosting with the determination to emerge victorious.

For Nigeria, the prospect of competing at home offers an opportunity to translate the advantage of hosting into a landmark sporting achievement.

Ekwueme believes the successes recorded by Egypt and Morocco should inspire the Nigerian team as the country prepares to welcome some of Africa’s leading women golfers to Abuja.

Nigeria will host the championship for the third time, following the 1996 edition at Ikoyi Club 1938 in Lagos and the 2010 tournament at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

While hosting the event is an achievement in itself, winning the trophy on home soil would represent an even greater milestone for Nigeria’s women’s golf community.

The home team will, however, face considerable opposition from countries determined to claim the continental crown. Success will require thorough preparation, technical ability, competitive discipline and the composure to handle the pressure of representing the host nation.

Beyond the title race, the championship will give Nigerian golfers an opportunity to test themselves against some of the continent’s strongest players, gain valuable international experience and demonstrate the progress of women’s golf in the country.

Ekwueme also highlighted the tournament’s wider significance, noting that the AACT creates lasting memories and strengthens relationships among golfers from across Africa.

By bringing together players from different countries, the competition encourages friendship, cultural exchange and greater collaboration in the development of women’s golf across the continent.

For Nigeria, the event also presents an opportunity to showcase its golf facilities, hospitality and capacity to organise a major continental sporting championship.

With the countdown entering its final weeks, attention is expected to shift towards the participating teams, their preparations and the challenge of determining Africa’s next women’s golf champion.

For Nigeria, the ambition goes beyond welcoming the continent to Abuja. The ultimate prize is to turn home advantage into victory and create a defining moment for the country’s women’s golf movement.