Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) President Malboum Kalkaba has issued a passionate call for more Diamond League events to be staged on African soil, following a string of electrifying performances by African athletes during Sunday’s Wanda Diamond League meet in Rabat.
Speaking shortly after the thrilling event at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Kalkaba lauded the African contingent for their dominance.
“I can say I’m proud of the performance of the African athletes, they honoured the continent. Many lead performances and meeting records were broken by African athletes. I’m happy with what has happened here in Rabat,” Kalkaba remarked.
The CAA boss emphasized that Rabat has firmly established itself as a premier destination for world-class athletics, adding that it was time for other African nations to step up and host similar elite competitions.
“Our desire is to have more events like this for the continent, maybe in Kenya, South Africa, or Nigeria, where many countries have the capacity to organize these kinds of events. I’m happy that I came to watch this event here in Rabat,” he said.
African Stars Shine Bright in Rabat
Kenya’s rising middle-distance sensation Nelly Jepchirchir continued her impressive 2025 campaign with a commanding victory in the women’s 1500m. The teenage prodigy clocked a season’s best of 3:58.04, edging out Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele, who also posted a season-best time of 3:58.44.
South Africa’s sprint king Akani Simbine maintained his perfect run this year, clinching the men’s 100m crown in 9.95 seconds (0.6 m/s wind). Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finished closely behind, securing second place with a time of 10.05 seconds.
In the men’s 800m, Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela stamped his authority on the global stage with a sensational world-leading and meeting record time of 1:42.69, underlining his status as one of the fastest two-lap specialists this season.
Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma delivered a gritty performance in the women’s 800m, winning a highly competitive race in 1:57.42. Meanwhile, Jamaica’s sprint queen Shericka Jackson impressed in the women’s 100m dash, storming to victory in a season’s best 11.04 seconds.
As African athletes continue to command global attention with record-breaking performances, the demand for more high-profile meets on home turf is expected to grow, a move that would not only showcase Africa’s rich athletics talent but also inspire the next generation of stars.
