Three American athletes in Nigeria’s junior squad for the World Cup – Sports – The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

[FILES] Stadium track; EMORYRAD

Three U.S.-based junior athletes have been featured on Team Nigeria’s roster for the U-20 World Athletics Championships from August 17-22 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The 27-person list published yesterday by the Nigerian Athletics Federation (AFN) includes US-based trio Favor Ofili (Louisiana), Best Erhire (Tennessee) and Udodi Onwuzurike (Michigan).

Ofili is expected to compete in four disciplines, including the women’s 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Other athletes in the 100m and 4x100m relay are Praise Ofoku, Olayinka Sholademi Olajide, Chukwuma Obi, Tima Godbless and Anita Taviore.

Nigeria’s flag bearers in the men’s 100m and 4x100m relay are Favor Oghenetejiri Ashe, Godson Brume, Fakorede Adekalu, Mabilo Nicholas, Udodi Onwuzurike and Kingsley Unorji.

Tina Godbless and Ofili will compete in the women’s 200m, while Adekalu Nicholas Fakorede and Udodi Onwuzurike are the 200m athletes.

One of Nigeria’s brightest stars in the junior category, Imaobong Nse Uko, leads the women’s 400m and 4x400m relay. Others in the season are Opeyemi Oke, Ada Bright, Osaretin Joy, and Ofili.

The duo Bamidele Ajayi and Johnson Chidera will compete in the men’s 400-meter run.

Ekporere Prosper Oghenemine is Nigeria’s only representative in the men’s 110m hurdles, as is Sarah Ochigbo in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Others on the list are Nathaniel Ezekiel (400 m hurdles men), Ruth Agadama (long jump women), Esther Osisike (discussion women), Omamuyovwi Best Erhire and Aya David (high jump men) and Nnamdi Chinecherem (javelin men).

Bamidele Ajayi, Salubi Emmanuel, Imaobong Nse Uko, Opeyemi Oke, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Chidera Johnson are listed for the 4x400m mixed relay.

The athletes of Team Nigeria have been at the camp in Asaba in the state of Delta since July 23, where they took part in an open trial on July 29. The final squad was selected on Tuesday.

The host country Kenya will field 44 athletes for the competition, just as India has named 28 athletes. Botswana is sending an 18-man squad for the junior championship.

Over 1,300 athletes from 128 countries are expected at the championships where top Nigerian athletes like Deji Aliu were discovered.

Aliu, who rose to become one of the greatest athletes in Nigeria, began his junior career in 1992 at the Junior World Championships in South Korea, where he won a bronze medal in the 4 × 100 m. In 1994 Deji Aliu took part in his second Junior World Championship in Portugal, where he won gold over 100 m and silver over 200 m.

The AFN said yesterday it was sure to get good results in Nairobi.

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