The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has unveiled a 26-member squad set to represent the country at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Region II Senior Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place on Monday and Tuesday at the University of Ghana Sports Complex in Legon, Accra.
The Nigerian contingent, competing in 20 events across both track and field disciplines, will be under the technical leadership of AFN Technical Director Gabriel Okon and National Head Coach Solomon Aliyu. The team is expected to depart Lagos for Accra on Saturday.
Leading the delegation is veteran 400m runner Patience Okon-George, whose experience will be vital as Nigeria seeks to defend its regional title.
Nigeria will field formidable relay squads. In the men’s sprint and relay events, Olaolu Olatunde, James Taiwo Emmanuel, Abdulgafar Audu, and Chidera Nzeakor are set to compete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. The women’s sprint team features Chioma Nweke, Olayinka Olajide, Iyanuoluwa Bada, and Maria Thompson, who will compete across the individual sprints and relays.
In the 110m hurdles, U.S.-based athletes Nnamdi Onwaeze and Musa Wisdom Great will represent Nigeria, while the 400m and relay events will see Gafari Badmus, Ezekiel Asuquo, Victor Sampson, and David Alkalu joining the experienced Okon-George, alongside Favour Onyah, Opeyemi Oke, and Anita Enaruna.
The field events will be led by Prestina Ochonogor, a Paris Olympics finalist, who will compete in the women’s long jump. Charles Godfred will contest the men’s long jump, while other field representatives include Blessing Oluwayemi (triple jump), Adams Kure (javelin), Dickson Ugochukwu (shot put), Treasure Omosiuwe (high jump), and Victoria Kparika (women’s javelin).
In the women’s middle-distance category, Comfort Anietie James will be Nigeria’s sole entrant in the 800m.
AFN President and CAA Region II President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, extended his congratulations to the selected athletes and urged them to deliver top performances.
“The Federation and the country expect nothing short of great performance that will see Nigeria defend the title won last year,” Okowa said.
At the previous edition, Nigeria dominated the medals table, collecting 13 gold, four silver, and one bronze with a 22-athlete squad — a record the current team will aim to surpass in Ghana.
