By Uzor Odigbo
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has unveiled 35 athletes to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Among selected Athletes are Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Ese Brume, Chidi Okezie, Okon George Patience, Rosemary Chukwuma, Itsekiri Oshoritise, Godson Brume, Udodi Onwuzirike, Ogazi Samuel, Alaba Olukunlei, Favor Ashe.
Others include Dubem Nonyelu, Akintola Alaba, Okon Israel, Onyekwere Chioma, Nnamdi Chinecherem etc.
Team Nigeria will compete in 9 events respectively in both the men’s and women’s categories, and men’s Mixed 4x400m.
The selection of Nigeria’s Athletics team has been short from being thorough, experts have said, adding that some of them were picked for just showing appearance owing to various degrees of injuries and tiredness.
The experts also say others in the team picked in the past didn’t show up at the trials, a development which had attracted much criticism from stakeholders.
“Since participation at the Olympics is probably the idea of picking injured Athletes to the Olympics well and good, ” says one of the stakeholders who pleaded anonymity.
“80% of selected Athletes are not ready for the Olympics based on fitness and pre games performance and indiscipline even as the AFN technical department knows these basic facts,” he said.
