The Africa Forward Summit 2026 – the high-level meeting of heads of state and government that President William Ruto and President Emmanuel Macron of France are co-hosting in Nairobi from May 11–12, 2026 – had room for sports in its programme.
Discussions on the topic – led by Ruto, Macron, President Duma Boko of Botswana, and President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye – were fashioned on presenting how African sports can influence economic transformation, innovation and technology, green growth, and Africa-France relations globally.
Yet, the significance of the topic did not deter speakers, including the four presidents, cracking jokes during their addresses.
For Ruto, a joke about his amateur volleyball career did the trick but the event’s setting – the University of Nairobi – and the presence of Macron also had him evoking his connection to the academic institution and France. Ruto spoke of his undergraduate and post-graduate academic pursuits at the University of Nairobi which started when he joined the institution on July 14, 1987. July 14, known as Bastille Day in France, is a national holiday in the European nation. Interestingly, Ruto also shares a birthday with the French president.
Former World Marathon Record Holder Eliud Kipchoge delivers his speech at the University of Nairobi on May 11, 2026, during the Africa Forward Summit 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
For his part, Macron, who went for a jog with Kenyan marathon Eliud Kipchoge, joked about the former world marathon record holder and double Olympic champion being too fast for him. Macron also praised Kenya as “a great sporting nation”.
President Faye was perhaps the most boastful. He introduced himself as the leader of the winners of the 2025 African Cup of Nations (Afcon), a remark that had the audience, including CAF President Patrice Motsepe, roaring with laughter since the CAF Appeal Board had, on March 17, 2026, awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory, overturning Senegal’s 1-0 triumph in the final played on January 18, 2026. Faye further stated he hoped Senegal will defend their title next year, a statement made in recognition that Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will be hosting the next Afcon.
CAF president Dr. Patrice Motsepe delivers his speech at the University of Nairobi on May 11, 2026, during the Africa Forward Summit 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Botswana’s president also had the room in stitches, saying that he wished the plenary was a relay race so that he could unleash the might of his nation’s most lethal baton-exchanging quartet. Botswana recently hosted the World Athletics Relay, during which they won gold in the men’s 4 x 400 metres relay. Referring to their successful hosting of the event, Boko said medals given to winners at the competition were embedded with natural diamond. “We made a statement with that,” Boko said, boasting about his country being the world’s largest producer of diamonds by value.
When things got serious, it did so with pride for current state of African sports and optimism for its future.
Ruto, the oldest of the four presidents, said that Africa should be at the centre of everything sports in the world because of the potential of its youth.
“Africa today is the youngest continent on earth. More than one billion Africans are below the age of 35. That is not just a statistic, it is a historic opportunity to build one of the world’s most dynamic sports economies,” said Ruto, who also used the occasion to laud 31-year old Kenyan marathoner Sabastian Sawe becoming the first man to run a marathon under two hours.
Ruto further emphasised on remarks made by his counterparts, which matched thoughts shared by previous speakers who had discussed sports in the language of economists – “creating dynamic ecosytems”, “scaling growth”, and “unlocking opportunities”.
While Boko said, “investment opportunity that can unlock employment, tourism, infrastructure, development, youth empowerment and regional integration,” Ruto reiterated, “sports is industry, sports is infrastructure, sports is investment, sports is culture, diplomacy, technology, tourism, and of course jobs.”
President William Ruto and French president Emmanuel Macron at the University of Nairobi for a discussion on youth, innovation, and partnership.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“Investing in sports is investing in people, which is investing in the future,” he said, blending the occasion’s theme – Africa, Sports, and the Future – with his remarks.
Riding on that, Ruto said that his government plans to build 27 stadiums across the country and his administration sees sports more than a competition or activity of reaction.
Motsepe was one of the many speakers who were given an opportunity to speak before the presidents’ sessions.
Also prsent were Kenyan marathon greats Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Chepchirchir, three-time Senegalese karate champion Makhtar Diop who is Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, former Kenya Sevens captain Humphrey Kayange who is now an International Olympic Committee executive, NBA Africa CEO Claire Akamanzi, and Former Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha.
