Date: Sunday, 30 November 2025
Eritrean Biniam Girmay in the men's category and Kimberley Le Court of Mauritius in the women's category have won the 2025 Africa Cycling Excellence Awards (ACEA) .
The awards ceremony took place at Zaria Court on the evening of Saturday, November 29, 2025, and was attended by the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe; the President of the CAC, Yao Yao Allah-Kouamé and UCI delegates.
These awards, which were presented for the first time, were organized by the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC).
In the men's category, Eritrean Biniam Girmay was named African Men's Cyclist of the Year.
He defeated his fellow countrymen Henok Mulubrhan and Milkias Maekele.
Last year, in 2024, Biniam Girmay became the first African rider to win three stages in the Tour de France.
In the women's category, the best player of the year was Kimberley Le Court of Mauritius, who beat Ethiopians Kahsay Tsige Kiros and Selam Amha Gerefiel.
Among the awards presented, Burundian Odette Nsengiyumva was named the Best Female Athlete in the East African Region, while the best male athlete was Charles Kagimu from Uganda.
The Amateur Player of the Year was Paul Daumont from Burkina Faso.
The National Team of the Year was won by Eritrea (Team Rwanda) and Mauritius.
Among the Rwandans who performed well, Xaverine Nirere was named the women's player of the year, while the men's award was won by Masengesho Vainqueur.
The President of the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC), Dr. Yao Allah-Kouamé, stressed that the year 2025 was a special one for Africa because Rwanda hosted the Road Cycling World Championships.
He said: "It was a great event that reinforced what Africa is capable of when a visionary leader puts his people first. I thank President Kagame and tell him that he has made us proud to be Africans."
The Secretary of State in the Ministry of Sports, Rwego Ngarambe, said that today is 'Africa's cycling day'.
He said: "We are here to support you, we need you to win the Tour de France and other competitions and we know that you have the potential. We are 54 countries, each country has the capacity to organize different competitions. Let's see this as an opportunity to promote cycling and promote investment in sports."
For the second time, these awards will be held in Rwanda in November 2026.
The event took place at Zaria Court in the evening.
CAC President, Yao Yao Allah-Kouamé, thanked President Paul Kagame and Rwanda for making the whole of Africa proud by successfully hosting the UCI World Championships held in September.
Burundian Odette Nsengiyumva named Best Cyclist in the East African Region
Ugandan Charles Kagimu is the top male athlete in the East African Region.
Burkina Faso's Paul Daumont was named the best amateur player in Africa.
The best Rwandan male athlete was Masengesho Vainqueur.
Nirere Xaverine is the one who inspired other female players in Rwanda.
Eritrean National Team Wins African Cup of Nations
The players who fought each other took a commemorative photo.
