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Team Nigeria Ready to Defend Title, Grab World Championships Relay Tickets as CAA Region II Senior Athletics Championships Begins Today

The second edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Region 2 Senior Athletics Championships begins today at the University of Ghana, Legon, Sports Complex, Accra.

Nigeria, along with 15 other countries from the West Africa sub-region, are expected to participate in the 2-day competition involving over 450 athletes vying for honours in 20 events.

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26 athletes will be representing Team Nigeria, which won the maiden edition of the championship two years ago at the same venue.

Nigeria is using the championship to chase World Championship relay tickets in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria head coach, Solomon Aliyu, noted the team is ready to compete as the relay quartets chase a good time that will qualify them for the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, next month.

Despite the absence of top Nigerian athletes who may do the job much easier, Solomon Aliyu said there are many reasons to be optimistic.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed, we have the relay teams here who are ready to compete and produce the kind of performance we hope for…Let’s see how things go, especially the 4x400m teams.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, who spoke to the athletes on Sunday after their training at the University of Ghana warm-up tracks, urged them to prove once again that Nigeria is a force to be reckoned with in track and field.

“This is another opportunity to show the world the strength and resilience of Nigerian athletes. Go out there with confidence, make yourselves proud, make the Federation proud, and above all, make Nigeria proud. We believe in your talent, and we are confident you will deliver.”

TEAM NIGERIA

100M/200M & 4x100M
✓ Olaolu Olatunde
✓ James Taiwo Emmanuel
✓ Abdulgafar Audu
✓ Chidera Nzeakor

MEN’S 110M HURDLES
✓ Nnamdi Onwaeze
✓ Musa Wisdom Great

400M & 4X400M
✓ Gafari Badmus
✓ Ezekiel Asuquo
✓ Victor Sampson
✓ David Alkalu

LONG JUMP
✓ Charles Godfred

TRIPLE JUMP
✓ Blessing Oluwayemi

JAVELIN
✓ Adams Kure

SHOT PUT
✓ Dickson Ugochukwu

WOMEN

100M/200M & 4x100M
✓ Chioma Nweke,
✓ Olayinka Olajide
✓ Iyanuoluwa Bada
✓ Maria Thompson

400M & 4X400M
✓ Patience Okon-George
✓ Favour Onyah
✓ Opeyemi Oke
✓ Anita Enaruna

800M
Comfort Anietie James

LONG JUMP
✓ Prestina Ochonogor

TRIPLE JUMP
Treasure Omosivwe

JAVELIN
Victoria Kparika

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
✓ Gabriel Okon

HEAD COACH
✓ Solomon Aliyu

Host Ghana has a 30-man contingent made up of 17 males and 13 females for the championship and will compete in 20 events.