NAIROBI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) said Tuesday Mauritania, Niger and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will miss the continental junior championships after they failed to confirm their participation in time.
CAA president Hamad Kalkaba Malboum said on Tuesday that the third African U-18 Championship and the 14th edition of the African U-20 Championship have attracted over 30 countries and regions.
The two events, which will be staged concurrently in Cote d'Ivoire capital Abidjan, will run from April 16-20.
"Mauritania, Niger and DRC have not confirmed their preliminary commitments and so they will miss the championships," said Kalkaba.
The CAA president also confirmed that they will stage the 28th Congress of the CAA alongside the two championships where several issues will be discussed including the IAAF stance to drop long distance races of 5,000m and 10,000m from the lucrative Diamond League.
The CAA congress will also hold its elections to select new officials for the African athletics authority.
