History of the Union
African kabaddi’s documented record, from the first World Cup qualifiers to a continental title defended in Zanzibar.
Scope: This timeline records only events that AKU or a named source has documented. AKU has not published a founding date, a list of past office bearers, or a record of championships before 2024.
Kenya retain the title in Zanzibar
The continental championship was staged outside Kenya for the first time on the published record. Kenya beat Uganda in the final to defend the title, and the Union met in Zanzibar to award the next hosting cycle.
Hosting cycle opened for 2027–2029
AKU circulated its hosting requirements and bid guidelines to all affiliated federations, opening bids for six continental championships.
Uganda crowned champions of Africa
Six teams contested the Africa Women Kabaddi Championship at JKUAT in Juja. Uganda’s She Gladiators took the title from Kenya, with Zanzibar third.
A published competition calendar
AKU set out a calendar of championships and development events for 2025–2026, spanning women’s, junior, beach, club and schools competition.
Nine nations at Kasarani
The Africa Kabaddi Championship was staged at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi. Kenya beat Uganda 44–23 in the final; Zanzibar took bronze.
Kenya take bronze at the Bangabandhu Cup
Kenya and Uganda represented Africa in Dhaka. Kenya beat Sri Lanka and Japan, lost a four-point semi-final to Nepal and finished third.
Three Kenyans in the Pro Kabaddi League
Daniel Omondi joined Patna Pirates, with Samuel Wafula and Helvic Simiyu at UP Yoddhas for season 10 — African players in the sport’s leading professional league.
Kenya named host of the Africa World Cup qualifiers
The International Kabaddi Federation announced Kenya and Chinese Taipei as hosts of the 2024 Africa and Asia senior men’s World Cup qualifiers — the first time nations would qualify for a Kabaddi World Cup.
Botswana Kabaddi founded
The Botswana federation’s crest records 2018 as its founding year — the earliest date on any AKU member’s published mark.
Help complete the record
Federations and officials holding results, photographs or documents from earlier African kabaddi competition can send them to the secretariat to be added to this history.
Contact AKU