FENASSCO A Games: Minister Nalova Lyonga salutes fair play as Centre Region retains crown.

Minister Nalova saluted the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship, portrayed by the competitors and urged them to continue to strive for excellence.

For a week, beginning April 2, over 2,000 athletes competed for medals in individual and collective disciplines; including table tennis, wrestling, badminton, athletics, football, volleyball, basketball, handball among others.

The minister said some of the outstanding performances in the competition show that the students can build their talents in various disciplines while also excelling in their studies.

Centre Region wins again

For the fourth successive time, athletes from the Centre Region stood tall, grabbing the highest number of medals for secondary schools.

With a total of 57 medals, including 36 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals, the Region was ranked first. 

Before the Limbe Games, the Centre Region had been the undisputed winners of the 2019, 2022 and 2023 editions of the competition. 

The Far North and West Regions, were ranked second and third with 41 and 53 medals respectively, with the former winning more gold medals (17) than the latter (11).

Host, South West Region, and the North West Region, improved on their rankings as compared to the last edition of the Games in Garoua and Gashigha.

Athletes from the South West Region bagged home 24 medals, five in gold, while those of North West Region totaled 15 medals, five in gold as well.

Though the Littoral Region won 20 medals, there were ranked last (10th), given they returned home with just two gold medals.

In the classification for teacher training colleges, (ENIEG and ENIET) the host, South West Region, was ranked first with 8 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals.

NW honored for civic mindedness, SW grabs fair play trophy

Apart from the on-field activities at the 2024 FENASSCO A Games, organisers also judged and awarded some other aspects in the event.

The North West Region was ranked among the most civic-minded delegations to the Limbe competition.

They were classified second, behind the Littoral Region, which emerged on first position while the West Region occupied the third position.

As host, the South West Region was acknowledged and honoured with a trophy for general fair play. It highlighted the region’s adherence to the principles of fairness and integrity on and off the field. 

The trophy was received by the South West Regional Delegate for Secondary Education, Dr Hannah Etonde Mbua.

The administration of the South West Region, under the coordination of Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai, as well as security and law enforcement officials, were also saluted for the work done to ensure the success of the Games.

Also, some individual members of the Organising Committee, cooks and those who contributed to the construction of the FENASSCO A Games monument at GHS Mokundange, were also recognised for their valuable contributions.

The closing ceremony at the Limbe Omnisport Stadium was marked by the men’s football final, which saw the East Region beating the Centre Region to win gold.

If the Limbe Games are said to have gone on well, one thing which got the Secondary Education boss pissed was the theft of mattresses that were used for the lodging of athletes and officials.

In a very bitter tone during the closing ceremony, Minister Nalova Lyonga, lamented: “We have lost mattresses...”

She then rhetorically questioned: “…why are you stealing mattresses?”. The member of government promised to apprehend the perpetrators.

She announced that Abong Mbang, in the Upper Nyong Nyong of the East Region, will host the 2025 edition of FENASCCO A Games.