AUC to Co-Host Egypt's First All-Africa University Games

AUC is taking center stage this September as Egypt hosts the All-Africa University Games for the first time, bringing thousands of student-athletes from across the continent to compete in one of Africa’s largest university sporting events from September 8 to 16. AUC will host competitions in 10 of the 21 sports.

Taking place from September 8 to 16, the 2026 All-Africa University Games will bring together approximately 2,000 student-athletes representing 59 universities from 17 African countries. 

“We are proud to participate in co-hosting the games, which bring together young athletes from across Africa in Cairo," said AUC President Ahmad Dallal. "Sports create opportunities for students from different universities to come together through competition, teamwork and camaraderie. These experiences are an important part of university life.”

The 2026 All-African University Games will feature 21 sports, including basketball, track and field, tennis, padel tennis, squash, modern pentathlon, fencing, futsal, volleyball and swimming at AUC, with additional competitions hosted at universities across Egypt. 

“AUC is proud to be part of this historic moment for university sport in Egypt and across Africa,” said Sharif El Erian, senior director of athletics at AUC. “Our role as a host allows us to showcase the University’s state-of-the-art sports facilities, our experience in hosting high-level competitions and our commitment to providing student-athletes with an environment that supports excellence and high-level competition. At the same time, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to defend the continental title they have won in the past two editions.”

“We are proud to participate in co-hosting the games, which bring together young athletes from across Africa in Cairo." 

For AUC, the All-Africa University Games carry added significance. The University enters the competition as a two-time continental champion, having finished first overall across Africa at the 2022 Games in Kenya and the 2024 Games in Nigeria. This year, AUC will defend its title on home soil, allowing the University’s student-athletes to compete in front of an Egyptian home crowd. Approximately 150 AUC student-athletes are expected to represent the University at the event. 

The celebration begins even before competition gets underway. An Olympic-style torch relay is traveling across the universities hosting the event before reaching the New Administrative Capital for the opening ceremony and Parade of Nations on September 9. At AUC, President Ahmad Dallal kicked off the University’s torch relay ceremony on campus, passing the  torch to AUC student-athletes and marking the University’s participation in the continent-wide celebration. 

"We look forward to welcoming athletes from across Africa and celebrating the spirit of excellence, sportsmanship and unity that defines university sport," said El Erian.

Show your AUC pride and cheer on our student-athletes!