ALGIERS 2026: AFRICAN KARATE UNITED

African Karate Championships Algiers 2026: A Celebration of Excellence, Development and Unity

The African Karate Championships – Algiers 2026 brought together athletes, coaches, referees, officials and National Federations from across the African continent for an important continental gathering dedicated to sporting excellence and the continued development of karate.

Held in Algiers, Algeria, the championships provided a major platform for African athletes to compete at continental level across Cadet, Junior, U21 and Senior categories, in Kata and Kumite, alongside team competitions and Para Karate.

The event was organised under the framework of the Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK), in cooperation with the World Karate Federation (WKF) and the Algerian Karate Federation, with competitions taking place at the La Coupole Olympic Complex.

A Continental Gathering Beyond Competition

Algiers 2026 was more than a sporting competition. It brought together the different components of African karate around a broader programme of development, education, governance and institutional coordination.

The championship programme was accompanied by UFAK meetings, referee and judge activities, coaching education, examinations and exchanges between National Federations and continental officials.

These activities reflected UFAK's approach to developing karate through regular competition opportunities while simultaneously strengthening the technical and administrative capacities of the continent.

UFAK Executive Committee Meeting

The programme in Algiers included a meeting of the UFAK Executive Committee on 9 September 2026 at the Sheraton Hotel in Algiers.

The meeting addressed organisational, technical and refereeing matters related to the championship, with presentations from the relevant UFAK commissions and members of the organising structure.

The discussions also provided an opportunity to review the implementation of UFAK activities and to coordinate the different components of the Algiers event.

General Assembly of Information

On 9 September, UFAK also held its General Assembly of Information at the Sheraton Hotel in Algiers.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks from the President of the Algerian Karate Federation, followed by addresses from Souleymane Gaye, President of UFAK, and Antonio Espinós, President of the WKF.

Their messages emphasised cooperation, coordination and collective efforts in strengthening the development and promotion of karate throughout Africa.

The Assembly reviewed the minutes of the 2025 Extraordinary General Assembly and Ordinary Elective General Assembly in Abuja, as well as the UFAK Activity Report covering the period up to 31 August 2026.

Bechir Cherif, UFAK 1st Vice-President and Regional Co-ordinator, presented the 2026 Activity Report of the UFAK Regions, outlining the regional programmes and activities implemented across the continent and their contribution to athlete development, technical education, officials' development and cooperation among National Federations.

Strengthening Governance and Institutional Development

The General Assembly also addressed financial matters, governance and the future programme of the Union.

The presentation of the certified financial report for the 2025 accounts and the provisional 2026 budget provided member federations with an overview of the Union's financial situation and budgetary orientations.

The meeting also underlined the importance of sound administration, transparency, coordination and strong institutional structures in supporting the continued development of African karate.

The work of the UFAK Executive Management was also recognised, including the contributions of Bertin Dogmo, General Secretary, and Madani Ba, General Treasurer, together with the President, Executive Committee, commissions and National Federations.

Developing African Refereeing

A major component of the Algiers programme was the UFAK Referee and Judge Seminar, bringing together officials from across the continent.

The seminar recorded 433 participants, including 182 officials in Kata and 251 in Kumite.

The programme was followed by referee examinations, providing officials with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and technical understanding of the WKF rules and examination requirements.

The activities contributed to the continued harmonisation of refereeing standards and the development of qualified African officials.

Investing in Coaches

The championship programme also included an African Coaching Course and Examinations, providing coaches with opportunities to strengthen their technical knowledge and obtain accreditation.

A total of 50 coaches were accredited, including 24 in Kata and 33 in Kumite, while 8 coaches were homologated, comprising one in Kata and seven in Kumite.

The coaching programme reinforced the importance of education and continuous professional development as essential elements of African karate development.

Competition at the Highest Continental Level

On the tatami, athletes competed across the Cadet, Junior, U21 and Senior categories in Kata and Kumite, as well as team events.

The championships provided young athletes with valuable continental-level experience while giving established competitors an opportunity to measure themselves against the leading karateka from across Africa.

The competition also contributed to the visibility and promotion of African karate and created opportunities for National Federations to strengthen their competitive programmes.

Egypt Leads the Medal Table

According to the official SportData medal standings, Egypt finished at the top of the overall medal table, followed by Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal.

The distribution of medals demonstrated the competitive depth of African karate, with athletes from 19 National Federations reaching the podium.

Egypt collected the largest number of gold medals, while Algeria recorded the second-highest number of gold medals and the strongest overall number of podium finishes after Egypt. Morocco and Tunisia also secured multiple gold medals, while Senegal and Benin reached the top of the medal table.

The results reflected the breadth of competitive development across the continent.

Para Karate and Inclusion

Para Karate was also included in the Algiers programme, reinforcing the importance of providing opportunities for athletes across different categories and promoting the values of inclusion and participation within African karate.

Its presence within the continental championship programme further demonstrated the commitment to developing karate as a sport accessible to a wider community.

Cooperation and the Future of African Karate

Algiers 2026 took place within a wider programme of UFAK activities carried out during 2026, including regional championships and development programmes in different parts of the continent.

These initiatives, conducted with the ongoing support and cooperation of the World Karate Federation, aim to bring development opportunities closer to National Federations and to strengthen competition, technical education and officials' development across Africa.

The Algiers championships therefore formed part of a broader continental strategy combining competition with education, governance, regional development and international cooperation.

A Championship Built on Collective Effort

The successful organisation of Algiers 2026 reflected the contribution of many stakeholders: the Algerian Karate Federation, UFAK, WKF, National Federations, athletes, coaches, referees, judges, medical teams, organisers, volunteers and technical officials.

Their combined efforts contributed to creating a continental event that brought African karate together around shared sporting and development objectives.

Looking Ahead

The African Karate Championships – Algiers 2026 provided an important chapter in the continued development of karate on the continent.

Beyond the medals and results, the event highlighted the importance of building strong National Federations, developing athletes and coaches, strengthening refereeing standards, promoting Para Karate and improving institutional cooperation.

Under the leadership of UFAK President Souleymane Gaye, and through the work of the Executive Committee, commissions and National Federations, UFAK continues to pursue a structured approach to the development and promotion of karate across Africa.

Algiers 2026 stands as a continental gathering where competition, development, cooperation and unity came together in support of the future of African karate.