2026 CAC: Egypt’s Zayed overcomes crash trauma to win five gold medals in Abuja

Posted : 19 May 2026

Egyptian cycling star Ebtissam Zayed delivered one of the most inspiring performances at the 2026 African Track Cycling Championships in Abuja after overcoming injury setbacks and painful memories to win five gold medals.

Zayed described her return to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Velodrome as deeply emotional, recalling the horrific crash she suffered during the 2019 edition of the championships in Nigeria.

“Coming back to this CAC Track Cycling Championships track was emotional for me because I had the biggest crash of my career here in 2019,” she said on the sidelines of the competition.

Despite carrying memories of that incident, the Egyptian rider showed courage and determination throughout the championships, which also serve as preparation for the forthcoming World Championships and qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Her campaign suffered another setback after she crashed during the scratch race on the opening day of the championships on May 12.

However, Zayed refused to allow the injury to derail her ambitions as she fought through the pain to dominate the competition and emerge with five gold medals.

“It was stressful and very tough for me after the crash, but I am proud that I pushed through and still managed to win five gold medals at the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) Track Cycling Championships,” she said.

The Egyptian star also paid tribute to her support system, including her husband, mother, coach, and teammates, for helping her through difficult moments in her career.

“My husband is here with me and he has been a huge support system. I also thank my mother, who has supported me since I was a child, as well as my coach and teammates,” she added.

Meanwhile, Algerian cyclist Assal-Mohamed Nadjib praised the successful organisation of the championships despite the hot weather conditions in Abuja.

“The weather was very hot, but it was a good experience for us. The atmosphere was great and we won many medals and titles,” he said.

Host nation Nigeria also had reasons to celebrate as junior cyclist Osaretin Godwin produced an outstanding performance, winning seven gold medals and two silver medals in the junior category.

The championships attracted cyclists from Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Benin Republic, and Nigeria, further strengthening Abuja’s reputation as a major destination for cycling competitions in Africa.

According to official results released by the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), South Africa topped the medal standings with 22 gold medals, while Egypt finished second with 10 gold medals. Nigeria placed third overall with nine gold medals.

The event featured the 12th Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) Track Cycling Championships alongside the 3rd CAC Para-Cycling Championships.

The continental championship concluded as a resounding success, highlighting both individual resilience and elite athletic talent across Africa. Zayed's historic triumph alongside South Africa's dominant medal run underscores the rising competitive standards of African track cycling. The successful delivery of the event further cements Nigeria's capacity to host major international sporting spectacles.

2026 CAC: Egypt’s Zayed overcomes crash trauma to win five gold medals in Abuja

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics