The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says its 35-man contingent to the forthcoming coming Summer Games will not leave the French capital without stepping on the medal podium.
This assurance was made over the weekend by the President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, in an interview with AFN Media, shortly after the final list of Team Nigeria Athletics was made public.
Chief Okowa said the Federation in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Sports have concluded arrangements for the team’s training camp in Germany before heading to Paris for the Games.
“We are praying and hoping that all our plans and build up for the Games go as scheduled and the athletes are fit. And if they are fit, you can be rest assured that Tobi Amusan is a very strong candidate for a gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles, the same goes for Ese Brume in the Long Jump,” the AFN Boss stated.
The 35-man strong contingent of Team Nigeria Athletics is made up of 18 females and 17 males who compete for honours in nine events in their category as well as the Mix Relays 4×100m and 4×400m.
“The relays is another medal prospect zone for our team, the technical team will be do the needful in the area of baton exchange and we hope it goes well which is our prayer, you can be sure of a podium finish,“ Okowa who is also the President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Zone 2 added.
He further emphasized that at a major outing like the Olympics, sheer moments of individual brilliance are recorded and Team Nigeria Athletics do have a couple of athIetes in its fold who can spring or create such moments.
“Our mission to the Games in Paris is build on the success story of the African Games, the World Relay Championship, African Senior Athletics Championships and open up our team to the next World Athletics Championships in 2025 and the 2028 LA Games,” the Delta State born Sports Administrator stressed.
“Team Nigeria Athletics squad to Paris is a pretty young team and we have another group of talented athIetes who are currently in Colleges and Universities in America who will be ripe for the big stage in two years time. That’s what we in the AFN are excited about.”
The President went on to explain that the Technical Committee carefully selected the very best based on their performance in the last six months.
On the issue of some athIetes who could not compete at the National Trials in Benin City, the AFN President stated that the athIetes were advised to rest by the medical team as a precautionary measure because they were carrying varied degree of injuries.
“We will keep encouraging those who could not make the roaster to France to keep working hard as there are countless opportunities for them with Team Nigeria Athletics in the future,” Okowa concluded.
KEY FIGURES IN THE TEAM:
The AthIetics contingent of Team Nigeria have two heavyweight amazons in their fold, that’s world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles Tobi Amusan and 2022 World Championship silver medalist in the women’s Long Jump Ese Brume.
Born some 27 years ago Oluwatobiloba Ayomide “Tobi” Amusan is the current world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles with a time of 12.12 seconds which she set at the 2022 women’s 100 metres hurdles semi final in Eugene Oregon.
She is the current Commonwealth champion in the 100m hurdles, as well as the meet record holder in those two competitions. Amusan became the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100m hurdles gold medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds.
The lady of steel is also the current Diamond League champion in the 100 metres hurdles having won the final in 12.33 seconds, achieving a winning streak in 2021, 2022 and 2023. It’s noteworthy to mention that Amusan has the fastest time in the event this year.
Ese Brume is the current commonwealth champion and a three-time African senior champion in the long Jump and holds a personal best of 7.17 m.
She currently holds the commonwealth games record, African junior record and African record in the event. The Delta State born athlete is a two-time medalist at the world athletics championship, an Olympic bronze medalist and also a five-time African junior champion in athletics.
Ese Brume is one of the most consistent female long jumper in the last four years in the world and Paris may just be THE CITY OF THE GOLDEN LEAP for her as the season has been very result orientated with some of the excellent jumps.
If there is one event in athletics that Team Nigeria may climb the podium, it’s in the 4×100m relay with Ofili, Chukwuma, Godbless and Amusan will likely show up and with a perfect baton exchange don’t rule Nigeria out.
The men’s 4×100m, 4×400m as well as the 4×400 mixed relay teams have what it takes to engrave their names in the history books in Paris.
For the likes of Favour Ashe, Brume and Udodi Onwuzurike, the first step in France is to reach the final and after that, any colour of medal will be massively celebrated.
All eyes will be on Emmanuel Bamidele, Samuel Ogazi, Chidi Okezie and Ezekiel Nathaniel in the 4×400m relay.
Team Nigeria Athletics can also have some fine athIetes capable of turning up big time in the field events like Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the Shot Put and Chinecherem Nnamdi
in the Javelin.
Temitope Adeshina is picking at the right time in the women’s High Jump. Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonogor are other Long Jumpers in the women’s field.
Ashley Anumba, Obiageri Amaechi and Chioma Onyekwere made it gold, silver and bronze in Douala, however Paris will be a bigger platform to enhance their CVs in the women’s Discus while Sade Olatoye is competing in the Hammer.
TEAM NIGERIA ATHLETICS TO PARIS OLYMPIC:
WOMEM:
Favour Ofili
100m/200m/4×100m
Rosemary Chukwuma
100m/4×100m
Tima Godbless
100m/4×100m
Olayinka Olajide
4×100m
Justina Eyakpoboyan
4×100m
Ella Onojuvwevwo
400m
Elo Joseph
400m
Tobi Amusan
100m HURDLES
Ese Brume
Long Jump
Ruth Usoro
Long Jump
Prestina Ochonogor
Long Jump
Temitope Adeshina
High Jump
Sade Olatoye
Hammer
Ashley Anumba
Discus
Chioma Onyekwere
Discus
Obiageri Amaechi
Discus
MEN:
Favor Ashe
100m/4×100m
Godson Brume
100m/4×100m
Kanyinsola Ajayi
100m/4×100m
Alaba Akintola
4×100m
Usheoritse Itsekiri
4×100m
Ezekiel Nathaniel
400m Hundles
Dubem Nwachukwu
4×400m
Samuel Ogazi
400m/4×400m
Ifeanyi Ojeli
4×400m
Udodi Onwuzurike
200m/4×400m
Chidi Okezie
400m/4×400m
Chukwudebem Amene
4×400m
Edose Ibadan
800m
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
Shot Put
Chinecherem Nnamdi
Javelin
MIXED RELAY:
Israel Okon
4×400m
Sikiru Adeyemi
4×400m
Patience Okon
4×400m
Omolara Ogunmakinju
4×400m
Elo Joseph
4×400m
Ella Onojuvwevwo
4×400m
