Trending 
Nigeria has officially joined Africa’s race to bring Formula One back to the continent after confirming plans to bid for a Grand Prix in Abuja.
The move has expanded a growing list of African countries competing to host the championship for the first time in more than three decades.
Nigeria’s National Sports Commission confirmed in late June that it will submit an official bid, appointing Opus Race Promotions as its exclusive representative to engage Formula One Management and the FIA.
The announcement marks the first time Africa’s most populous nation has formally entered the race.
“Our consensus is that we should bid and we will,” National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko said.
The commission has also invited Formula One President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and circuit designers Tilke Engineers & Architects to Abuja for further discussions.
Nigeria’s proposal includes a US$500 million development featuring an FIA Grade One racing circuit, an international karting track, an engineering and technology hub, a motorsport museum, and hospitality facilities.
If approved, Nigeria would become the first West African nation to host a Formula One World Championship race and only the second African country, after South Africa, to stage a modern championship race.
South Africa remains the continent’s strongest contender after stepping up its campaign to return Formula One to the historic Kyalami Circuit.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie recently declared: “Formula One is going to happen,” after announcing financial backing from major sponsors, including Betway, MTN, Discovery, and SuperSport.
McKenzie also confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend a Formula One Grand Prix later this season as part of South Africa’s lobbying efforts.
“The president’s visit will allow us to observe, engage, and strengthen our case,” McKenzie said.
Morocco has also strengthened its campaign with plans for a US$1.2 billion motorsport complex outside Tangier.
Project leader Eric Boullier said the development would “tick all the boxes of what Formula One wants to achieve in Africa” if it receives final government approval.
Rwanda officially launched its bid in December 2024 during the FIA General Assembly in Kigali.
President Paul Kagame said: “I am happy to formally announce that Rwanda is bidding to bring the thrill of racing back to Africa,” adding that the country was approaching the opportunity “with the seriousness and commitment it deserves.”
Meanwhile, Zanzibar has proposed a beachfront Formula One circuit as part of a wider tourism development.
Tourism Minister Simai Mohammed said: “We are thinking big. This is not just about Formula One. It’s about economic transformation.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the initiative as “an important milestone for grassroots motorsport across the continent,” saying such programs are essential to expanding participation and nurturing future talent.
The five bids underline how dramatically Africa’s Formula 1 ambitions have evolved in just a few years.
When Liberty Media began expanding Formula 1 into new markets, discussion around an African race largely centred on South Africa’s historic Kyalami circuit.
Today, the conversation spans every corner of the continent, from Abuja in West Africa and Kigali in East Africa to Tangier in North Africa and Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean.
Formula One has repeatedly indicated that returning to Africa remains part of its long-term expansion plans, although no host country has been selected.
“We were in talks with three African countries,” Domenicali recently said, while noting that discussions were still ongoing.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also continued to champion the return of Formula One to Africa.
“I don’t want to leave the sport without having a Grand Prix there, without getting to race there, so I’m chasing them,” Hamilton said.
Although Africa’s campaign has gathered momentum, the Formula One calendar is already largely committed through 2028, making 2029 the earliest realistic opportunity for the championship to return to the continent.
Credit: Bonface Orucho, Bird Story Agency.
