By Suleiman Mbatiah
Veteran sports journalist Elias Makori has been honoured for his lifetime contribution to sports journalism in Kenya and across Africa, marking another milestone in a career that has shaped sports coverage on the continent for more than three decades.
Makori and veteran football commentator Bernard Otieno were among a select group of African media professionals recognised for their individual roles in sports development, media excellence and long service to the profession.
The ceremony was held at the FIFA Africa headquarters in Salé, Rabat, on the sidelines of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 tournament in Morocco. The event brought together senior football officials, journalists and broadcasters from across Africa and beyond.
The awards were presented by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) in partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA. Winners in the competitive categories received prize money, certificates and commemorative plaques.
The recognition is part of the annual AIPS Sport Media Awards, a global programme that attracts entries from journalists worldwide and honours excellence in writing, photography, broadcast journalism and sports storytelling across platforms.
Founded in 1924, AIPS is the world’s leading professional association for sports journalists. It represents national sports writers’ associations across more than 160 countries and works to promote ethical standards, professional development and press freedom within sports media.
Through its awards programme, AIPS seeks to highlight high-quality sports journalism while encouraging innovation, depth and responsibility in reporting across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
The awards reflect the breadth and diversity of contemporary sports journalism, recognising work produced across different regions, cultures and media formats.
Makori, a former managing editor of sports at Nation Media Group, has spent more than 30 years covering major global sporting events and mentoring younger journalists in the field.
In June 2024, he founded Pura Vida Sports Africa, a media platform aimed at amplifying African sports stories, highlighting local talent, and providing deeper coverage of the continent’s athletes, competitions and sporting institutions.
His career includes coverage of multiple Olympic Games, World Championships and FIFA World Cups, alongside extensive reporting on athletics, football and other international competitions.
In 2012, Makori was named World Journalist of the Year by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), becoming the first African journalist to receive the honour.
Reacting to the Legend Award recognition, Makori said the honour was a fitting way to conclude the continental football showpiece, describing it as a meaningful moment at the close of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
“What a winning way to wind up AFCON Morocco 2025. God is good. We keep pushing,” he said in a Facebook post, adding that he would continue using journalism as a tool to support the growth of sport in Africa.
Bernard Otieno was recognised for his contribution to football commentary, with organisers citing his long and distinguished career in broadcast journalism.
Otieno remains the only Kenyan commentator to have covered two FIFA World Cups, having called matches at the 1998 finals in France and the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF head of communications Luxolo September attended the event and took part in presenting the awards to the recipients.
Speaking at the event, Infantino commended CAF, host nation Morocco and all the participating teams for what he described as an outstanding AFCON, stressing the tournament’s growing stature on the global stage.
“I am proud of CAF, Morocco and the participating teams during the tournament. It has been absolutely spectacular, top level,” Infantino said while reserving special praise for African journalists, acknowledging their role in promoting the game and connecting fans to their heroes.
The Legend award recognises journalists whose work over time has elevated African sport locally and internationally, and whose careers reflect consistency, professional excellence and lasting impact.