The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has named its official team to the 3rd CAA U-18/U-20 Championships which begins Wednesday at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The team was named on Tuesday by AFN’s President Chief Tonobok Okowa and the Technical Director Gabriel Okon.
The team which is made up of 51 male and 41 female athletes, moved into the championship village on Monday after two weeks of camping shortly after the national trials in Shagamu.
A breakdown of the team shows that 23 boys and 17 girls will be competing for honours in the U-18 category while 23 girls and 29 boys will be vying for honours in the U-20 category of the Championships.
Okon said the Technical Committee took a very critical and thorough look at the strength, technical and tactical abilities as well as the events that we have advantage in, before selecting each member of Team Nigeria.
“I’m confident that these athletes will go places, they are the future of Nigeria’s athletics. They’re young, eager to learn and the spirit in the camp is sky high,” Okon, a former sprinter said.
Meanwhile, the President of the AFN, Chief Okowa has charged members of Team Nigeria to go for glory at the competition which starts Wednesday.
“It’s not a win at all cost but they should run, jump and throw with the zeal and determination to succeed. We are fully committed to this project of laying a solid foundation,” Okowa stated.
“We went to Ndola, Zambia two years ago with 41 athletes and the team finished on the podium. This time around we want to run for the top honour,” Okowa, a Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics, added.
Temitope Ademola and Honourable Victor Clement are the captains of the team, Ademola leads the girls and Clement is the boys leader.
