For the young players arriving in Cairo, the championship is not only about winning matches.
It is also about learning how to handle a bigger stage.
Ahead of the All Africa U-19 Championships 2026, the Badminton Confederation of Africa, in close collaboration with the Egyptian Badminton Federation, is organising a Youth Training Camp for Under-19 players on 25 and 26 September.
The camp brings together young players from 10 African countries: Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
For many of them, this is an opportunity to train alongside players they will soon face across the net.
The camp is being led by two BCA experts, Neeresh from Mauritius and Alaa from Egypt. Both will work with the young players through a combination of theory and practical sessions, giving them the opportunity to prepare not only physically, but also mentally and technically for the championship ahead.
There is a reason why this camp comes before the competition.
Once the championship begins, the players will have little time to stop and think. Matches will come quickly, pressure will build and every point will matter. The training camp gives them a final opportunity to prepare in a different environment, learn from BCA experts and understand what is expected from them at an international event.
The camp is also part of a wider effort to strengthen the development of badminton coaches in Africa.
Neeresh and Alaa are preparing to attend the BWF Coach Education Level 3 programme in Singapore next November. Their involvement in Cairo therefore carries another important purpose: the knowledge gained and shared during this camp can continue to benefit badminton development beyond these championships.
For the young players, however, the most immediate task is much simpler.
Train.
Listen.
Learn.
And then take what they have learned onto the court.
The participation of 10 countries also makes the camp a meeting point for young badminton talent from across the continent. Players from North, West, East and Southern Africa are coming together in one place, creating an environment where they can learn from one another as well as from their coaches and experts.
Participation in the training camp is mandatory for BCA support, underlining its importance as part of the championship programme.
The Cairo Stadium Indoor Hall will soon be filled with the noise of competition. But before the first team match begins, these young players have a quieter task in front of them.
They are preparing themselves for the moment when the training ends, the competition begins and the shuttle is finally in the air.
The Junior Mixed Team Championships will take place from 27 to 29 September, before the Junior Individual Championships from 30 September to 3 October.
For some, Cairo could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Every international player starts somewhere.
For these young African athletes, this could be one of those moments.
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