Okowa, Okon confident of Team Nigeria’s good outing
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has named a 92-member team made up of 51 male and 41 female, for the 3rd CAA U-18/U-20 Championships which begin today at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta.
The team was named yesterday by AFN’s President Chief Tonobok Okowa and the Technical Director Gabriel Okon.
The team moved into the championship’s village on Monday after two weeks of camping shortly after the national trials in Sagamu, Ogun State under the close watch of the AFN Technical Committee led by Gabriel Okon.
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 challenging 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.
Read Also: Oshoala, Plumptre return as NFF list 24 Super Falcons for WAFCON
“I’m confident that this will go places, they are the future of Nigeria athletics. They’re young, eager to learn and the spirit in the camp is sky high,” Okon a former sprint said.
Meanwhile, the President of AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa has urged members of Team Nigeria to go for glory at the competition.
“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 have been selected as the captain of the female and male team respectively.
TEAM NIGERIA: BREAKDOWN FOR CAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
U-18:
Girls – 18 athletes – 17 events
Boys – 22 athletes – 17 events
U-20:
Girls – 24 athletes – 18 events
Boys – 28 athletes – 19 events