Following the dissolution of the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa in July 2013, organisation for the Games was transferred to the Sports Council of the Union, would work in conjunction with ANOC to promote and organise the event in the Congo capital. 

It understood, however, that the two bodies have failed to reach agreements over a number of areas, including marketing and promotion.

"ANOCA attended meetings in the run up to the dissolution and I even met the chair of the AU Commission [Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma] to discuss this further," ANOCA President Lassana Palenfo told the International Sport Press Association (AIPS).

"But we could not agree on certain aspects so we never signed any agreement pertaining to the Games.

"So on a sporting level we have agreed to offer organisational expertise to help the next host but unfortunately we shall remain as guest attendants to these Games for now."

Next year's All African Games in Brazzaville follows the last edition of the event in Mozambique in 2011  ©AFP/Getty Images



The last All-Africa Games took place in 2011 in Mozambique's capital Maputo where 5,000 athletes from 53 countries took part in 30 sports. 

Brazzaville is due to host the Games first time since an inaugural event in 1965 and next year's edition are set to mark the 50th anniverary. 

On that occasion the United Arab Republic, an ill-fated political union from which Syria had seceded four years earlier, finished top of the medals table with 30 medals, including 17 gold.

But, although nine subsequent editions have been held, giving the event a history comparable with the Asian and Pan American Games, they have invariably struggled to capture the attention of the public amid long-standing organisational tension.

Although it is hoped the 2015 Games, due to take place unspecified dates in August and September, will bring tangible sporting and wider benefits to the host nation, there is currently little attention on them, especially in comparison to for this year's Asian Games in Incheon from September 19 until October 4 or the inaugural European Games in Baku next year from June 12 to 28. 

Participating nation's at Brazzaville 2015 will now have rely on Government funding to ensure their participation, with Morocco having already announced it does not now intend to send a team to Brazzaville.

Because athletes no longer have the incentive of qualifying for Rio 2016, it is also likely that some of Africa's biggest names will opt not to compete, including long distance runners from Ethiopia and Kenya who will be concentrating instead on the International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Beijing. 

Polenfo told AIPS this was now "the biggest worry", because they "had hoped to make the Games an Olympic qualifying competition for most of the disciplines."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]