Football, widely recognized as the world’s most popular sport, demands a unique blend of physical attributes for optimal performance. Among these, agility, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness (VO2 max) play pivotal roles in determining a player’s effectiveness on the field (1) . As football continues to evolve into a highly competitive and physically demanding sport, understanding the physiological capacities of players becomes imperative for coaches, trainers, and sports scientists alike. While numerous studies have explored the physiological profiles of football players globally, there remains a scarcity of research focusing on African footballers, particularly those at the university level. This gap in the literature is notable considering the rich talent pool and growing prominence of African football on the international stage. Moreover, university-level football serves as a crucial developmental phase for young athletes, shaping their physical capabilities and future prospects in the sport(2).

Against this backdrop, this cross-sectional study aims to investigate the agility, endurance, and VO2 max levels among African university football players. By delving into these key physiological parameters, this research seeks to provide valuable insights into the athletic profiles of these players, thereby contributing to the optimization of training programs and performance enhancement strategies tailored to the specific needs of African footballers(3).

Agility, defined as the ability to change direction rapidly and efficiently, is a fundamental attribute for football players, influencing their ability to evade opponents, execute quick turns, and maintain control over the ball. Endurance, on the other hand, encompasses the capacity to sustain prolonged physical exertion throughout a match, thereby ensuring consistent performance from kickoff to final whistle(4). Lastly, VO2max, representing the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can utilize during intense exercise, serves as a reliable indicator of cardiovascular fitness and overall aerobic capacity, both of which are critical for sustaining high-intensity efforts during gameplay(5).