Uzor Odigbo
Team Nigeria Athletics contingent to the 2024 Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroun will depart Lagos today.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has listed top stars for the championships with the view of topping the medals table. The championships will run from June 21 to June 26.
Speaking with AFN Media shortly after retaining her title at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City, Record Holder in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan said they are going to Douala to display their talents.
“We are Nigerians, and we are going to Douala to show that spirit of ‘we can do it.’
Also speaking, newly crowned 100m champion, Favour Ofili said: “I am confident we will top the medals table in Douala.”
Long jumper, Ese Brume also promised to do her best to ensure Nigeria finish well in Douala.
Meanwhile, Record-chasing Adeshina and Amusan headline Nigeria’s 40-man team to 23rd African Athletics Championships holding in Douala.
Adeshina will be seeking to become the first Nigerian woman to be crowned African champion in the high jump event after silver medal finishes by Nneka Ukuh and Doreen Amata.
The 25-year-old will likely battle Ghana’s Rose Yeboah, the reigning African Games and defending African Championships champion for the gold.
Both were locked in the battle for the NCAA gold some 10-11 days ago with the Ghananian winning the gold on countback after the trio podium finishers (Adeshina, Yeboah and Elena Kulichenko) cleared 1.97m each.
Amusan, on the other hand, is not only the defending 100m hurdles champion at the championships, she will also be aiming for a hat-trick of high hurdles titles after winning in 2018 and 2022.
If she succeeds, she will become the third Nigerian nay African woman to win the event three straight times after Maria Usifo and Glory Alozie.
Also listed are sprinters Ushoritse Itshekiri, Kanyinsola Ajayi and Godson Oghenebrume for men and Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Tima Godbless for the women. While the men will be seeking to return Nigeria to the podium since 2008 when Olusoji Fasuba won for the third consecutive time, the women will be seeking a first for Nigeria since 2014 when Blessing Okagbare ran a then Championships’ record of 11.00 to win the title.
In the 400m, reigning African Games champion, Chidi Okezie has been listed alongside teenage sensation, Samuel Ogazi and Dubem Amene with the sole task of returning Nigeria to the podium as African champion 26 years after Clement Chukwu won the gold in Dakar, Senegal.
Okezie made history at the African Games when he became the second Nigerian after Innocent Egbinke (1987) to win the 400m title and the 30 year old will be seeking to repeat that history.
For the women, Ella Onojuvwevwo will lead Esther Joseph and Patience George to battle for the medals on offer with the target the gold medal last won by Folasade Abugan in 2014.
Like Amusan, also returning to win a hat-trick of titles are the duo of Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and Chioma Onyekwere.
Also listed to compete in the event are Obiageri Amaechi and Anumba Ashley.
Long jumper, Ese Brume is seeking to reclaim the title she relinquished without a fight two years ago in Mauritius and may likely face defending champion, Marthe Koala of Burkina Faso who has defeated the Nigerian twice in 10 head to head clashes with the second coming last September at the Diamond League meeting in Xiamen, China.
Prestina Ochonogor, the reigning Nigeria champion in the event will also be in the long jump equation and may feel she has a say in who wins the gold this time.
In the women’s hammer throw, Sade Olatoye will be looking to successfully defend the title she won two years ago in Mauritius.
Godfred Charles who set a new 8.16m lifetime best in the long jump and second farthest winning jump in the history of the Nigerian Championships will be aiming to return Nigeria to the podium for the first time after 21 years.
