Kenya defends Kabaddi AFCON title

There is no time to rest for the newly crowned champions. Kenya now sets eyes on training for the 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, set to take place in Ahmedabad, India, in October.

by Marabou News Agency Staff

Kenya defended their Africa Cup of Nations Kabaddi Men’s Championship title after putting on a masterclass at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.

Seven nations recently lined up in Zanzibar including Uganda, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania, all chasing continental glory. But Kenya proved to be an untouchable force from start to finish.

Cruising through the round-robin stage undefeated, Kenya dispatched hosts Zanzibar in the semi-finals before setting up a high-stakes final against regional rivals Uganda.

In a high-intensity faceoff, the Kenyan squad showcased sheer brilliance, taking down Uganda 35 to 21 to lock up the gold medal once again.

Kabaddi is a fast-paced, high-contact sport originating in South Asia. Two teams of seven face off as a “raider” cross into enemy territory to tag defenders and dash back within 30 seconds—all while trying to avoid a bone-crunching tackle.

Points are awarded for successful tags, while defenders earn a point for tackling the raider. Tagged or tackled players are temporarily out but can re-enter when their team scores. Raids alternate between teams throughout the game.

The sport is quickly gaining traction in Africa with Kenya and Egypt seen as the early front-runners on the continent. While early continental tournaments struggled to meet the six-nation minimum required for official standing, recent years have seen explosive growth.

The women’s championship in 2023 in Matugga, Uganda, marked an important step forward, with eight countries participating. Before 2024, the Africa Kabaddi Union (AKU) organised men’s and women’s African championships as part of the development of Kabaddi on the continent.

Following a major 11-country tournament in Nairobi in 2024 and the women’s championship in 2025, the Africa Kabaddi Union has streamlined the calendar, now alternating men’s and women’s flagship events alongside new junior championships.

From 2023, the AKU began streamlining the continental competition calendar, with the men’s and women’s championships alternating every year.

The Junior Boys and Girls Championships were also introduced last year, and are expected to follow a similar alternating schedule every year.

There is no time to rest for the newly crowned champions. Kenya’s eyes are already set on the world stage. Training begins immediately for the 2026 Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, set to take place in Ahmedabad, India, from October 20th to 30th later this year.

Marabou News Agency

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