Athletes to arrive on Wednesday

Junior Athletes gearing to go at a recent championship

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN), has shifted the training camp for the final leg of preparations for the Africa U-18 and U-20 championships to Asaba, the capital of Delta state with the arrival date also shifted.

The Championships will hold from April 29 to May 3, 2023 in Ndola, Zambia.

Samuel Onikeku, the Technical Director of the federation said in a statement the shifting of the venue from the High Performance Centre in Abuja to Asaba is to enable the athletes train with the best of equipment which were used at the 21st National Sports Festival held just last December in the state.

‘The AFN is desirous of giving the athletes the best of preparations, hence, the decision to move them to Asaba where they will have the opportunity of training with the latest equipment without distraction,’’ says Onikeku.

‘The invited athletes are now to arrive Asaba from Wednesday April 12, 2023 to begin preparations for the Championship which has helped to produce some of the household names in Nigerian track and field today.’’

Over 55 athletes have been invited to camp as the AFN begins the process of unearthing the next big stars who will go on to make history at international Championships and Games.

Nigeria finished third (13 gold, six silver and 13 bronze medals) behind South Africa and Kenya in the last edition of the championships held at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Enoch Adegoke won the 100m gold at the championships and made history as the first Nigerian in 25 years to run in the 100m final at the delayed Tokyo Olympics barely two years later.

Favour Ofili set new championship best in the 200m and 400m enroute completing the U-18 double at the championships.

Ofili is now the Nigerian record holder in the 200m indoors (22.11) and outdoor (21.96).