African SAMBO Confederation Congress Convenes in Cairo

On the eve of the 20th African SAMBO Championships, the African SAMBO Confederation held its Congress in Cairo, Egypt. Delegates from across the continent gathered to assess the state of SAMBO development in Africa, review the work carried out since the previous congress, and chart the course for the sport's continued growth.

The Congress was opened by African SAMBO Confederation President Dalil Skalli, who welcomed the delegates and expressed confidence that the coming days in Egypt would prove fruitful – both in terms of the competitions ahead and in terms of strengthening ties between national federations and deepening their engagement with the continental confederation.

Address by FIAS Acting Secretary General

The Congress was addressed by Alexander Korsik, CEO and Acting Secretary General of the International SAMBO Federation, who brought greetings from the world governing body of the sport. On behalf of FIAS, Korsik welcomed the delegates and expressed the federation's continued commitment to supporting the development of SAMBO across the African continent.

Opening Address by President Dalil Skalli

President of the African SAMBO Confederation Dalil Skalli covered four key areas in his speech: general administration, African and world competitions, the development of African SAMBO, and proposals for further improvement.

On the subject of international competition, Skalli highlighted a meaningful shift in the standing of African athletes on the world stage. The continent's representatives, he noted, are no longer simply making up the numbers – they are genuine contenders, consistently winning medals at major tournaments, including multi-sport events. Several African athletes currently hold top positions in the official FIAS world rankings. A particular point of pride was the performance at the 2025 World SAMBO Championships, where African athletes claimed four medals. Skalli called on the confederation and its member federations to build on these results and continue raising the bar of sporting achievement.

Addressing the development of SAMBO across the continent, the President underscored the importance of the educational work being carried out with coaches and referees. Seminars and training programmes – including international-level courses held under the auspices of FIAS – have become a cornerstone of the confederation's development strategy. This systematic investment in human capital, Skalli emphasised, is what enables sustainable growth at every level of the sport.

The President also spoke to the need for closer and more consistent engagement with national federations, identifying this as a priority area for the period ahead.

Moral Report – François Mbassi

Secretary General François Mbassi presented the Moral Report of the African SAMBO Confederation, providing a comprehensive overview of the organisation's work and institutional standing during the reporting period.

Technical Report – Mohamed Aberouz

Technical Director Mohamed Aberouz delivered a detailed account of all competitions and seminars that took place under the confederation's umbrella, offering a thorough review of events across the continent. His report also addressed the representation of African delegates within FIAS commissions and governing bodies – a dimension that reflects the growing voice of African SAMBO within the international federation's structures.

Egypt in the Spotlight

With the Congress convening in Cairo, it was natural that Egypt – the host nation of the upcoming championships – drew particular attention. President Skalli took the opportunity to recognise the exceptional level of SAMBO development in the country, praising both the high organisational standards of Egyptian competitions and the depth and quality of Egyptian athletes. Egypt, he noted, has become one of the benchmarks for what SAMBO development can look like on the African continent.

Open Discussion

The formal presentations were followed by an open floor, where congress members raised questions and put forward proposals on the development of SAMBO – both within their respective countries and across the continent as a whole. The exchange reflected the breadth of experience represented in the room and underscored a shared determination to translate the continent's growing ambitions into concrete action at every level of the sport.

Looking Ahead

The Congress adopted a decision on the host city for the next African SAMBO Championships – the continent's premier tournament will take place in Casablanca, Morocco in 2027. In addition, following proposals from national federations, continental seminars for coaches and referees are planned in Cameroon and Guinea. Guinea also announced plans to host an international SAMBO tournament. These events are expected to provide fresh impetus for the development of SAMBO in West Africa.

The Congress concluded with a shared commitment to accelerating the growth of SAMBO across Africa – through stronger federation ties, continued investment in coaching and refereeing education, and an unwavering focus on athletic excellence. The work reviewed in Cairo sets the foundation for what promises to be a landmark edition of the African SAMBO Championships, which opens on June 13 and runs through June 15.

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