The All Africa U-15 Team Championships 2025 began with electrifying action at the Borteyman Sports Complex, as Africa’s youngest badminton stars took to the courts for two days of intense Group Stage battles in the Mixed Team Relay format. The atmosphere was buzzing, with ten nations fighting for a place in the knockout rounds and supporters filling the venue with cheers and encouragement.
In Group A, South Africa made a commanding start to their campaign, defeating Tunisia 55–32 in their opening tie. They followed it up with a comfortable 55–13 victory over Gambia, then overcame Namibia 55–26 before surviving a tense showdown against Algeria, narrowly winning 55–50 in what many described as the match of the group stage. South Africa’s Amy Wu described the Algeria match as “one of the hardest games” she had played:
“They really pushed us in every rally. It came down to just a few points in the end, and we had to keep believing until the last shot.”
Algeria, for their part, recorded strong wins over Gambia (55–19) and Tunisia (55–32), showing solid form and consistency throughout. Algerian player Chiraz Halimi said:
“Winning for Algeria means a lot to me. Every point we score is for our country, and that motivates us to fight harder.”
Namibia celebrated their first win by beating Gambia 55–23, while Tunisia claimed a close 55–47 victory over Namibia, a tie that went down to the final game. Namibian player Elias Kandjengo shared:
“This was my first time playing for Namibia at this level, and getting the win felt amazing. It makes all the training worth it.”
In Group B, Egypt started with two big wins, brushing aside Ivory Coast 55–6 and Ghana 55–23. Their early dominance was tested, however, in their clash against Mauritius. Mauritius had already looked sharp, beating Ghana 55–36, Ivory Coast 55–9, and Zimbabwe 55–10. When the two met, the tie swung back and forth before Mauritius clinched a thrilling 55–50 victory in front of an excited crowd. Egypt’s Omar Abdelaziz admitted:
“We gave everything, but Mauritius played really well. We’ll learn from this and come back stronger in the next round.”
Mauritius’ Chhavi Ramlagan called it “a big moment” for her team:
“Beating Egypt gave us so much confidence. We worked together and never stopped believing, even when it was close.”
Host nation Ghana delighted their supporters with a resounding 55–10 win over Ivory Coast and an emphatic 55–5 victory over Zimbabwe. The energy from the stands was a huge boost for the players, with Adu-Mintah Obapombanoting:
“Playing at home is special. The crowd gives us so much energy, and we want to give them something to cheer for every time we step on court.”
Ivory Coast managed to edge Zimbabwe 55–49 in one of the closest ties of the group, a match that kept both teams fighting until the very last point. Zimbabwe’s Tariro Moyo said:
“We were so close to winning. It’s disappointing, but it also makes me want to train harder for the future.”
Day 2’s morning session saw South Africa maintain their unbeaten record with a 55–11 win over Ivory Coast, while Egypt bounced back strongly to beat Tunisia 55–22. Ghana earned another confidence-boosting victory by defeating Algeria 55–38, a result that sent the home crowd into loud celebrations. Ghana’s M. Adu said:
“That win against Algeria means so much to us. We kept our focus and trusted each other until the last point.”
Mauritius wrapped up their group stage with a 55–23 win over Namibia, confirming their place at the top of Group B. Mauritian player Leo Jean-Mathieu Douce added:
“We came here to compete, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far. Now we need to keep this form going into the knockouts.”
The group stage offered a perfect mix of dominant wins, close contests, and dramatic finishes, all underlined by the unique Mixed Team Relay format, where every discipline contributes to the team’s total score. The young athletes played with pride and determination, showing not only skill but also maturity in handling the pressure of representing their countries.
With the group stage complete, the top teams from each group will now move into the knockout rounds, where the stakes will be higher, the pressure greater, and every point will count towards the dream of becoming African champions. The BCA invites all fans to follow the remaining days of competition through the BCA WhatsApp Channel and Facebook page, where daily results, photos, and interviews will be shared.
