Asaba Stadium facilities thrill athletes, set for Last trials for Zambia 2023

The last trials to select athletes who will fly Nigeria’s flag at the 2023 African U18 and U20 Athletics championships in Zambia will hold on Wednesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Head Coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Seigha Porbeni, told The Guardian, yesterday, that over 60 athletes and eight coaches are training at Asaba stadium ahead the African championship.

“We have over 60 athletes and eight coaches in the camp now. Only one coach is still being awaited. We will hold the last trial to pick our athletes on Wednesday,” Porbeni stated.

According to him, the atmosphere in the athletes’ camp is super change saying: “The athletes are anxiously waiting for the day to come. They are very excited to train with the best facilities at the Stephen Keshi stadium. Some of them have not seen such a wonderful track before. I am sure the facilities in Asaba will aid their performances at the African championship in Zambia.”

Porbeni, a former sprinter, jumper and hurdler, commended the AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, and the state government for making available the facilities for the athletes to train.

The AFN had picked the athletes from its U18 and U20 event held in Kaduna on March 28. The camping programme was earlier scheduled for Abuja, but was moved to Asaba.

The Guardian recalls that at the last edition of the African U18 and U20 championship held in Cote d’Ivoire in 2019, Team Nigeria finished 3rd behind South Africa and Kenya.