Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) at the weekend released a list of 51 athletes for the 2019 All Africa Games in Morocco scheduled to hold between August 17-29.
The 51 athletes which include 29 female athletes and 22 male athletes were selected after the All Nigeria Athletics Championships at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna last week.
Top on the AAG list are six athletes who have qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. They are: Raymond Ekevwo (100m), Divine Oduduru (200m), Emmanuel Bamidele (400m), Ese Brume (Long Jump), Blessing Okagbare (100m, 200m) and Tobi Amusan (100m Hurdles).
The 29 female athletes include: Bukola Adekunle (100m), Aniekeme Alphonsus (100m, 200m), Abasiamo Akpan (400m Hurdles), Doreen Amata, (High jump), Tobi Amusan (100 hurdles), Grace Anigbata (Triple jump/high jump), Grace Ayemoba (100 hurdles), Ese Brume (Long Jump), Rosemary Chuwkuma (100m), Oluwakemi Francis (Heptathlon), Patience Okon George (400m), Esther Isah (High Jump), Princess Kara (Discus), Mercy Ntia-Obong (100m), Kelechi Nwanaga (Javelin), Queen Obisesan (Hammer), Favour Ofili (200m/400m), Revelation Ogini (Shot Put), Blessing Ogundiran (100m), Temilola Ogunrinde (Hammer), Blessing Okagbare (100m/200m/Long Jump), Oyesade Olatoye (Shot Put), Fadekemi Olude (Race Walk), Chioma Onyekwere (Discus), Rita Ossai (400m/400m Hurdles), Joy Udo-Gabriel (100m), Amarachi Obi (400m), Blessing Oladoye (400m)and Nzubechi Nwokocha (100m).
While the 22 male athletes are: Oyeniyi Abejoye (110m hurdles), Enoch Adegoke (100m), Shedrack Akpeki (400m), Rilwan Alowonle (400m Hurdles), Emmanuel Arowolo (100m/200m), Nnamdi Chinecherem (Javelin), Ogho-Oghene Egwero (100m/200m), Raymond Ekevwo (100m), Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Shot Put), Orukpe Eraiyokan (400m), Edose Ibadin (800m), Usheoritse Itsekiri (100m), Samuel Kure (Javelin), Samson Nathaniel (400m), Divine Oduduru (100m/200m), Ayomidotun Ogundeji (Shot Put), Seye Ogunlewe (100m), Emmanuel Ojeli (400m), Chidi Okezie (400m), Aiyowieren Samuel Osadolor (Decathlon), Sikiru Adeyemi and Best Ephire.
Meanwhile, the 2019 All Nigeria Athletics Championships recorded some shocking results with new winners emerging.
Here are some results gathered from the Championship;
National Sports Festival Gold medallist Usheoritse Itsekiri emerged champion of the 100m, his first National senior title in 10.23 seconds beating three time champion Seye Ogunlewe who placed third in 10.27 seconds behind Enoch Adegoke in 10.25 seconds. Itsekiri made it a double in the 200m event.
In the women’s category, Joy Udo-Gabriel clinced her first Senior National title in 11.58 seconds beating Rosemary Chuwkuma (3rd) and Grace Nwokocha (2nd) while Patience Okon George won her 4th consecutive 400m title in a Season’s Best of 51.66 seconds to surpass the World Championship qualifying mark of 54.6/54.74 while Emmanuel Ifeanyi Ojeli won the men’s category in 45.93 seconds to win his first National title.
Oluwakemi Francis smashed her Personal Best of 5454 points to set a new record of 5517 points to win the Heptathlon. While in the high jump Esther Isah and Temitope Adesina emerged champions in the women and men’s category respectively.
Samuel Kure, Kelechi Nwanaga and Queen Obisesan all won their respective field events in the Javelin and Hammer.
The 2019 All Nigeria Championship was also used to select athletes for the 2019 World Championships scheduled for Sepetember 28-October 6 in Doha, Qatar.
The list is a big joke, Emmanuel Bamidele runs for Bahrain and not Nigeria. Rosemary Chukwuma who finished third in the 100m is not on the list and Blessing Ogundiran who was not in the top three made the team, Nigeria is a big joke.