Nigeria Excels at Tour D’Afrique, Federation Hails Success

Nigeria’s Cycling Federation board member, Femi Thomas, has described the country’s outing at the seventh edition of the Tour D’Afrique as a resounding success, saying the performance will undoubtedly strengthen Nigeria’s standing on the global cycling stage.

Thomas made the remarks as Team Nigeria arrived back in the country after completing the cross-border expedition at the ECOWAS Headquarters at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

The 2026 edition, officially themed ‘Riding Against Climate Change: A 1,110km Journey with Zero CO₂ Emissions’, ran from June 12 to June 19, with 50 dedicated cyclists drawn from various states and clubs across the country making up Team Nigeria.

The tour was flagged off in commemoration of World Bicycle Day and served as a multifaceted platform to celebrate Nigeria’s Democracy Day, ECOWAS at 51, and the One Africa agenda, all while practically demonstrating the viability of sustainable transport.

Thomas, a former athlete himself, stated that the experience was invaluable for everyone involved, particularly those participating for the very first time.

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“The seventh edition is another experience, you can never have enough. Different experience, different edition. It has been a very great opportunity to have been able to make such a journey again this year, having wonderful, awesome people with us,” he remarked.

“Multiple people participated from different states, different clubs and pros. For the first timers, it was their first time going into such a journey. They all faced the challenge, saw how it feels and likewise been able to survive it,” he added.

Thomas added that the cross-border tour directly supports three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, further underlining its deep significance far beyond the sporting arena.

Team Nigeria’s successful participation was smoothly coordinated by FT Cycle Care in conjunction with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and the Velo NG Community.

With the ECOWAS leg now officially completed, regional stakeholders say the tour has further positioned Nigeria as a highly credible voice for climate action and regional integration through the power of sport.