The All Africa Senior Badminton Championships 2026 is set to take centre stage in Gaborone, Botswana, from 09 to 15 February 2026, bringing together Africa’s finest badminton nations for a week of high-level competition and continental supremacy.
Hosted at the Royal Aria Sports Arena, the championships will feature both Team and Individual Events and will stand out as one of the most competitive editions to date, with a record participation of 17 countries and the Team Event being played in the prestigious Thomas and Uber Cup format.
Thomas & Uber Cup Qualification at Stake
The championships will begin with the Team Events, scheduled from 09 to 12 February 2026, and played in the prestigious Thomas Cup (Men) and Uber Cup (Women) formats. This phase of the tournament carries major significance, as the winning men’s and women’s teams will qualify directly to represent Africa for the Thomas & Uber Cup Finals.
The Thomas & Uber Cup Finals 2026 will be held in Horsens, Denmark, from 24 April to 03 May 2026, at the Forum Horsens Arena. As the winners of the Men’s and Women’s Team Events at the All Africa Senior Championships will qualify to represent Africa at these Finals, this directly underlines the importance of the African qualification pathway and the high stakes of the team competition in Gaborone.
Looking back at the previous edition held in Egypt 2024, Algeria successfully defended their Men’s Team title, edging Nigeria in a thrilling 3–2 final, while South Africa claimed the Women’s Team crown with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Uganda. As a result, Algeria enter the 2026 edition as defending champions on the men’s side, while South Africa return as defending champions in the women’s competition, setting the stage for intense matches and high expectations.
Individual Championships: African Titles on the Line
From 13 to 15 February 2026, the focus will shift to the Individual Events, where Africa’s top players will battle for gold medals and the prestigious title of African Champion 2026 in their respective categories. Every match during this phase promises elite-level badminton, technical mastery, and fierce competition as athletes aim to etch their names into African badminton history.
The official Team Managers’ Meeting will take place on Sunday, 08 February 2026, at 17:00 hrs, serving as a key administrative and technical briefing ahead of the start of competition.
Participating Nations
The 2026 edition will welcome a strong and diverse field of participating countries:
- Algeria
- Botswana
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Ivory Coast
- DR Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ghana
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Morocco (1 athlete)
- Mauritius
- Nigeria
- NOC–Kenya
- South Africa
- Seychelles
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
This wide participation reflects the continued growth and competitiveness of badminton across the African continent.
Voices from the Court in Gaborone: Champion Speak to BCA TV
Ahead of the championships, reigning African Women’s Single champion shared her thoughts with BCA TV.
Egypt’s Nour Ahmed Youssri, the defending African Champion, acknowledged the pressure that comes with her status:
“Of course, I am aware that coming into this edition of the All Africa Championships, there is a bit more pressure on me because I am the defending champion. Many players will be motivated to play their best against me, and I fully understand that. But I believe I prepared well for this competition, both physically and mentally. My first priority is to help my team during the Team Event, because the team competition is very important for us. After that, I will shift my focus to the Individual Championships and try to perform at my highest level. I will go on court match by match, give my best every time, and represent Egypt with pride.”
Follow the Action Across All BCA Digital Platforms
Fans across Africa and around the world are invited to follow the All Africa Senior Championships 2026 through the Badminton Confederation Africa’s official digital platforms for news, results, interviews, and exclusive content:
- YouTube
- BCA WhatsApp Channel:
👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VagpDGLBvvse4TAarE38
With continental titles, global qualification, and African pride on the line, Gaborone 2026 promises to deliver a spectacular celebration of African badminton at its very best.
