Budapest 2023: AFN to unveil Team Nigeria AthIetes next week
By Uzor Odigbo
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will unveil the Team Nigeria for the World Athletics (WA) Championship in Budapest, Hungary, before August 5th, 2023.
This hint was dropped by the AFN president, Chief Tonobok Okowa after Nigeria’s Men 4×100m relay quartet qualified for the relay event in Asaba on Thursday.
The AFN boss noted that the list would have been made known earlier but for late qualification of the Nation’s relay team.
He however promised that by next week after meeting with authorities at the Sports ministry and AFN Board, Nigerians would see Athletes that would represent them in Budapest.
This was also corroborated by the AFN technical director, Samuel Onikeku, who assured that by August 5th, all dotted lines would have been concluded for the immediate release of Team Nigeria AthIetes’ list.
“I think by August 5th, the list will be released,” Onikeku added.
Basking in the euphoria of Nigeria’s triumph in the relay event in Asaba, the AFN Vice President, Tafida Gadzama, has congratulated the relay team as he wished them a more victorious outing at the main event in Budapest.
In his Facebook handle, Gadzama, said: “This is the time the work for medals would start for podium appearance for the team and others. I Thank Athletes and coaches who have been with the team day and night to achieve this landmark success. Also to my colleagues on the AFN board, the Technical director and his team, I congratulate you all,” he said.
Meanwhile, the coaches who handled the men’s relay team namely, Tony Osheku, Gabriel Okon, Endurance Ojokolo were grateful for Athletes corporation during the trying times the team had to endure before the Budapest ticket was achieved.
Osheku insisted that owing to perfection delays, the team struggled.
He however said, “Now is the time for the real job of getting the team and others ready for the world championship.”
This was also re-echoed by Okon and Ojokolo.
However, the AthIetes have been enjoined to make sure they completed outstanding out of competition tests to avoid losing their places in the team.
This warning was handed down by a member of AFN technical committee who wants to remain anonymous for obvious reasons.
“We discovered that some of them have completed their whereabout tests, others are yet to complete it, so I’m appealing to them to speed it up before the World Championships.”