Army wins Abuja 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service competition

The Nigerian Army (NA) has been adjudged the over all winner of the 2022 Armed Forces Inter-Service Sports Competition (AFISSC), which ended at the Defence Headquarters Sports Complex, Mogadishu Military Cantonment, Abuja, on Thursday.

To emerge overall champion, the army clinched first positions in both the men and women categories of cross-country, taekwondo and volleyball, while its male athletes came second in basketball and football.

It, thus, became champion with a haul of seven gold and two silver medals.

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) finished as runners-up by securing first positions in football and basketball, as well as third positions in cross country, taekwondo and volleyball in the men’s category, while its women category came second in cross-country and basketball, as well as third position in taekwondo.

On the whole, the NAF pulled off two gold, three silver and four bronze medals in the competition.

The Nigerian Navy (NN) emerged third in the competition with a total of four silver and five bronze medals. It came second in men’s cross-country, taekwondo and volleyball, as well as third positions in basketball and football.

The Navy’s women athletes finished second in taekwondo and won bronze in cross-country, basketball and volleyball.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), who was the Special Guest of Honour, commended the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) for successfully hosting the championship.

The minister, who was represented by the Director of Army Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Sunday Attah, affirmed that, “the objective of the competition, which is to reinforce the existing cordial working relationship between members of the Armed Forces, has been achieved.”

He lauded the initiative of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor, for creating the platform and enabling environment for hosting the sporting fiesta.

Also speaking at the event, the CDS, Gen Irabor, who was represented by the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, commended the athletes for displaying camaraderie and team spirit throughout the competition.

He said: “The level of sportsmanship exhibited during the competition further gives credence to the premium placed by the AFN on activities geared towards enhancing the combat readiness of its personnel.”