Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has listed it’s top stars for the 2024 African Athletics championships, billed for June 21-26, in Doula, Cameroon.
The Nigeria team will depart Lagos Thursday.
Tested athletes like Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Favour Ofili and Temitope Adeshina who are returning to a familiar terrain have expressed their ready to dominate their events.
Amusan the world record holder in the women 100 hurdles is hoping to complete a hat-trick just like she had done with the African Games. Only Maria Osifo 400mh and Glory Alozie 100mh have won three consecutive African Championships titles.
Brume the African record holder in the women long jump is targeting her fourth title, she has Marte Koala and Prestina Ochonogor to contend with.
Ofili will aim to establish herself as the best in the continent in face of challenge from the likes of Gina Bass of Gambia.
Record-chasing Adeshina will be seeking to become the first Nigerian woman to be crowned African champion in the high jump. Nneka Ukuh and Doreen Amata silver medal placing was the best Nigeria has ever had.
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.
Also listed are sprinters Ushoritse Itshekiri, Kanyinsola Ajayi and Godson Oghenebrume for the men, 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.
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.
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 in 21 years.
