The first-phase camping of athletes for the 9th All Africa Games has begun in eight cities across the country, a top official of the Federal Ministry of Sports (MOS) said in Lagos on Saturday.

Amos Adamu, director of MOS Sports and Social Development Department told reporters in the Nigerian commercial capital Lagos that the athletes would camp in the eight cities of Abuja, Abeokuta, Benin, Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna and Lagos.

According to Adamu, nine sports including badminton, swimming, tennis, shooting, weightlifting, karate, hockey, chess and handball will be camped in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Ibadan, the capital of Nigeria's southwestern state of Oyo will host four other sports -- special sports, table tennis, wrestling and judo.

Abeokuta, the capital another southwestern state of Ogun, will host athletics and taekwondo. Lagos, the Nigerian commercial capital will host beach volleyball and kick boxing. Athletes of boxing, gymnastics, cycling, and basketball will be camped respectively in the other cities of Benin, Kano and Kaduna, Jos.