1978 All-Africa Games
Encyclopedia
The 3rd All-Africa Games
were played from July 13, 1978 to July 28, 1978 in Algiers
, Algeria
. 45 countries participated in twelve sports.
The Egyptian team, which had topped the medals table in the previous two games was called home by its government midway through the games after a brawl marred the soccer tournament. The Libyan team, after losing to the Egyptians, attacked the Egyptian players. Spectators armed with metals bars and clubs joined in on the Libyan side. It was reported that Algerian police did little to stop the violence. Live television broadcast the melee to Egypt, and the Egyptian Prime minister called the team home immediately.
The meeting in Algiers gave those African nations associated with the Commonwealth
a chance to address another brewing controversy; their proposed boycott of the 1978 Commonwealth Games
which were to be held the following month in Edmonton
, Canada
. The discussions were fruitful and the boycott was not carried out.
Henry Rono
, the Kenyan star who had already set four world records on the track in 1978 won the 10,000 meters and 3000 meters steeplechase. Filbert Bayi
again took the 1500 meters gold medal.
At the conclusion of the games it was not known where the next games would be held as no city had come forth to offer to hold the games.
Some new events were added: Decathlon
and pentathlon
, for men and women respectively, as well as men's 20 km road walk
.
tournament was won by the host country Algeria.
All-Africa Games
The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa...
were played from July 13, 1978 to July 28, 1978 in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. 45 countries participated in twelve sports.
The Egyptian team, which had topped the medals table in the previous two games was called home by its government midway through the games after a brawl marred the soccer tournament. The Libyan team, after losing to the Egyptians, attacked the Egyptian players. Spectators armed with metals bars and clubs joined in on the Libyan side. It was reported that Algerian police did little to stop the violence. Live television broadcast the melee to Egypt, and the Egyptian Prime minister called the team home immediately.
The meeting in Algiers gave those African nations associated with the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
a chance to address another brewing controversy; their proposed boycott of the 1978 Commonwealth Games
1978 Commonwealth Games
The 1978 Commonwealth Games were held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from 3 to 12 August 1978, two years after the 1976 Summer Olympics were held in Montreal, Quebec...
which were to be held the following month in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The discussions were fruitful and the boycott was not carried out.
Henry Rono
Henry Rono
Henry Rono is a Kenyan former athlete.-Biography:Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya, into the Nandi tribe. He started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976 he attended the Washington State University, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa, who broke the 10,000 meter world record in...
, the Kenyan star who had already set four world records on the track in 1978 won the 10,000 meters and 3000 meters steeplechase. Filbert Bayi
Filbert Bayi
Filbert Bayi is a former Tanzanian middle-distance runner of the 1970s who set the world records for 1500 metres in 1974 and the mile in 1975...
again took the 1500 meters gold medal.
At the conclusion of the games it was not known where the next games would be held as no city had come forth to offer to hold the games.
Medal table
| 1 |  Tunisia |
29 | 14 | 20 | 63 |
| 2 |  Nigeria |
18 | 10 | 15 | 43 |
| 3 |  Algeria |
16 | 19 | 23 | 58 |
| 4 |  Kenya |
11 | 8 | 8 | 27 |
| 5 |  Morocco |
7 | 8 | 11 | 26 |
| 6 |  Ghana |
4 | 4 | 7 | 15 |
| 7 |  Libya |
4 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 8 |  Senegal |
4 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| 9 |  Uganda |
3 | 6 | 5 | 14 |
| 10 |  Côte d'Ivoire |
2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| 11 |  Zambia |
2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 12 |  Sudan |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 |  Mali |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 |  Chad |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Swaziland |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 16 |  Cameroon |
0 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 17 |  Togo |
0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 18 |  Ethiopia |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 19 |  Republic of Upper Volta |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Tanzania |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 21 |  Gabon |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 117 | 101 | 132 | 303 |
Athletics
Malian discus thrower Namakoro Niaré won his third title, being the only athlete to do so. Four athletes, two male and two female, won more than one event:- El Kashief Hassan, Sudan (200 metres and 400 metres)
- Hannah AfriyieHannah AfriyieHannah Afriyie is a retired Ghanaian athlete-West African games:In the 1977 West African games in Lagos, Hannah Afriyie won the silver medal in the 100 metres.-All Africa games:...
, Ghana (100 metres and 200 metres) - Charlton Ehizuelen, Nigeria (long jump and triple jump)
- Modupe OshikoyaModupe OshikoyaModupe Oshikoya is a former female track and field athlete from Nigeria, who competed in the women's sprint and long jump events during her career. She is a one-time Olympian , and also competed in the heptathlon. Oshikoya won a total number of five gold medals at the All-Africa Games...
, Nigeria (high jump and long jump)
- Nagui AsaadNagui AsaadNagui Asaad Youssef ناجى أسعد, , is an Egyptian athlete who represented Egypt in the international events in the 1970s and early 1980s in shot put and discus throw.-Biography:...
, Egypt, won his second Gold medal in Shot Put of the All Africa Games in 1978 , AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, after his first in 1973 , NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
Some new events were added: Decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
and pentathlon
Pentathlon
A pentathlon is a contest featuring five different events. The name is derived from Greek: combining the words pente and -athlon . The first pentathlon was documented in Ancient Greece and was part of the Ancient Olympic Games...
, for men and women respectively, as well as men's 20 km road walk
Race walking
Racewalking, or race walking, is a long-distance athletic event. Although it is a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times...
.
Football
The footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
tournament was won by the host country Algeria.
| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
| Algeria Algeria national football team The Algeria national football team , nicknamed الأفنــاك, Les Fennecs , represents Algeria in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Algérienne de Football. Algeria's home ground is the Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers and their head coach is Vahid Halilhodžić.Algeria has qualified... Coach: |
Nigeria Nigeria national football team The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994... Coach: |
Ghana Ghana national football team The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association... Coach: |