AFRICAN GAMES
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Team Nigeria will begin search for track & field medals this morning as the athletics events of the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana begin.
Leading Nigeria’s 54-man contingent in the track & field is world record holder in the 100m hurdles Tobi Amusan who will be aiming to win the gold a third time.
She will also be striving to improve the Games record in the event after erasing Gloria Alozie’s at the last edition in Rabat, Morocco in 2019 with a new 12.68secs .
Ofc course, Ese Brume will also be aiming to win a second back-to-back gold in the women’s Long Jump where she has made remarkable achievement since taking over from her mentor Blessing Okagbare. However, Brume may not find it easy. She will have to contend with her compatriot, Ruth Usoro who has hit a devastating form ahead this Games with her leading jump at 6.87m as against Brume ‘s 6.84m so far this season.
In the absence of the continent’s best male sprinter, Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala who is also the Commonwealth Games champion, the 100m gold is likely going to a contest between the Nigerian trio of defending champion Raymond Ekevwo, Usheoritse Itsekiri and new boy on the block, Consider Ekanem. Five other Nigerian sprinters dominated the 100m in the past. They include Chidi Imoh (1987), Davidson Ezinwa (1995), Deji Aliu (2003), Olusoji Fasuba (2007) and Ekevwo (2019).
Nigeria will no doubt dominate the 200m men and women, and other field events like shot put, discus, javelin and the hammer throw. Can’t however vouch what may happen in the relays both sprint and quarter mile.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, who is in Ghana to support and cheer on the Nigerian contingent has expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud, urging them to maintain their pursuit of excellence and dominance, particularly over rivals like Egypt.
“I am charging the entire contingent to keep the chase on Egypt, and steer clear of the others behind them,” Senator Enoh stated. “I am sure in athletics, our athletes will bring their A-game and show their dominance,” the minister charged the athletes when he met with them at the weekend ahead of the opening round of heats today.
His support underscores the nation’s commitment to sports development and excellence on the continental stage.
Nigeria is currently second behind Egypt on the medals table. Hopes for more medals are on the horizon as the Games hit another height starting from today.
