African University Games open at AUC: where to watch and eat
A major continental sports week starts in Fifth Settlement
The 12th All-African University Games begin on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with AUC’s New Cairo campus serving as one of the headline venues in Egypt’s first time hosting the competition. Official AUC event listings place the games at the AUC Sports Center from 8:00 am on September 9 through September 16, while the Ministry of Higher Education says sporting competition officially starts on September 9 and runs alongside the opening ceremony later that day at Cairo Stadium’s Cycling Stadium. For New Cairo readers, that makes AUC in Fifth Settlement the clearest local base for seeing the event up close on day one.
AUC is not a minor host here. The university says it will stage 10 sports during Cairo 2026: basketball, track and field, tennis, padel tennis, squash, modern pentathlon, fencing, futsal, volleyball and swimming. AUC also enters the week as the two-time defending continental champion, after finishing first overall at the 2022 games in Kenya and the 2024 games in Nigeria.
What is happening on opening day?
The official public AUC event page confirms that the Games are active on campus from the morning of September 9 at the AUC Sports Center, AUC Avenue, New Cairo 11835. Separately, the Ministry of Higher Education’s published schedule says the broader championship framework began with delegations arriving on September 7, that competition starts on September 9, and that the formal opening ceremony is scheduled for the same day at Cairo Stadium.
One important detail for readers planning their day: official public pages clearly confirm the dates, venue and sports hosted by AUC, but they do not publicly set out an easy fan-facing fixture list for each opening-day match in the material available at the time of writing. In other words, if your goal is simply to be at the center of the New Cairo action, the most reliable move is to head to AUC New Cairo during the day, then treat the evening opening ceremony at Cairo Stadium as a separate option if you want the full spectacle.
Where to watch the opening-day matches in New Cairo
1) AUC Sports Center, Fifth Settlement
This is the main answer for local spectators. AUC’s official listings identify the AUC Sports Center as the on-campus base of the event, and AUC has emphasized that its New Cairo sports complex will host ten sports across the week. Because the university is both a host institution and defending champion, this is also the venue with the strongest chance of seeing AUC teams and athletes in person.
If you are coming from New Cairo, Rehab, Katameya or Madinaty, this is the most practical place to start your day. It keeps you close to the Fifth Settlement action and within a short drive of post-match food options around Point 90 and South Teseen.
2) Cairo Stadium’s Cycling Stadium for the opening ceremony
If by “where to watch” you mean the official ceremonial kickoff rather than daytime competition, the Ministry schedule points to Cairo Stadium (Cycling Stadium) on September 9 for the opening ceremony. That is not in New Cairo, but it matters because the same ministry schedule ties the start of the sporting contests to the same day. For many readers, the smart split is daytime at AUC, evening ceremony in Nasr City if traffic and timing allow.
Why AUC matters this year
This edition is a milestone for both Egypt and the campus itself. AUC says the 2026 games will bring together about 2,000 student-athletes from 59 universities representing 17 African countries, while other Egyptian official summaries have put participation even higher in later planning updates. Either way, the scale is big enough that Fifth Settlement is not just hosting campus fixtures; it is temporarily becoming one of the busiest university sports hubs on the continent.
AUC President Ahmad Dallal led the campus torch-relay ceremony before the games, and Sharif El Erian, AUC’s senior director of athletics, said the university is using the event to showcase its sports facilities and hosting experience. For residents of New Cairo, that means the story is genuinely local: this is not just a Cairo-wide event with a passing mention of Fifth Settlement, but a major on-the-ground sports week centered on an actual neighborhood venue.
Where to eat near AUC after the matches
Point 90 Mall: the easiest first stop
If you want the nearest straightforward dining option after watching play at AUC, Point 90 Mall is the practical default. Public business listings place it directly in front of AUC Gate 5, which is exactly why it works for quick coffee, a casual meal or a wait-out-the-traffic stop after the opening-day crowds.
- PAUL, Point 90: The brand’s official store locator lists a branch at First Floor, Point 90 Mall, New Cairo. This is the easiest pick if you want bakery items, coffee, sandwiches or a lighter sit-down break rather than a heavy meal.
- Mince, Point 90: Elmenus lists Mince at Point 90 Mall, Floor 2, AUC Point 90, New Cairo, with operating hours shown as 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. The same listing also notes a 50 EGP delivery fee on orders above 200 EGP, which at least gives a current price reference point for readers comparing casual options.
- Other mall dining: Directory listings for Point 90 also show additional food-and-drink names including Boulevard and other quick mall staples, making the complex useful if your group wants different budgets or cuisines without a second car trip.
How to choose between them
If you are leaving campus between matches, PAUL works best for breakfast, coffee or a late afternoon pastry-and-hot-drink stop. If you want something more filling before heading home, Mince is the more obvious burger stop. The wider Point 90 cluster is the safer choice for mixed groups, especially families or friends trying to avoid a longer detour deeper into New Cairo.
A simple opening-day plan for readers in Fifth Settlement
- Morning: Head to AUC Sports Center in New Cairo, where official event listings say the games run from 8:00 am.
- Midday break: Move across to Point 90 Mall for coffee or lunch.
- Afternoon: Return to AUC for more on-campus action if you are building a full sports day.
- Evening option: If you want the ceremony, continue to Cairo Stadium’s Cycling Stadium for the official opening event.
The Fifth Settlement takeaway
For New Cairo residents, the most useful thing to know is simple: September 9 starts on your doorstep. The 12th African University Games are not just passing through AUC; the campus is one of the event’s main engines, hosting ten sports while AUC tries to defend its continental crown. If you want to watch opening-day action locally, AUC Sports Center is the key venue. If you want the easiest nearby food plan, Point 90 Mall is the most practical answer, with PAUL for coffee and lighter fare and Mince for a quick casual meal.
Because public schedules available before kickoff do not spell out every fan-facing fixture on campus, it is best to approach opening day as a venue-first outing: go to AUC for the atmosphere and live competition, then build your meal around the nearby Fifth Settlement spots that can handle game-day traffic.