Athletes set for Asaba camp ahead World junior championship

With the attention of the world focused on Tokyo ahead of the opening ceremony of the delayed 2020 Olympics on July 23, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has also set its eyes on Asaba, Delta State, where 26 athletes will converge to prepare for the World U20 Athletics Championship. The competition will hold at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi, Kenya from August 17 to 23.

AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, told The Guardian yesterday that the 26 athletes “will arrive in Asaba on July 23 and spent some days to train ahead of the open trial on July 29.”

Okowa revealed that a board member of the AFN, Sameul Onikeku (representative of Customs on the board), has been appointed as coordinator of the camp in Asaba, adding that five coaches, including Seigha Porbeni, Brown Ebewele, Tony Osheku, Deji Aliu and Endurance Ojokolo will handle the athletes’ training.

“Some other personal coaches of the athletes will also be in the camp,” Okowa stated. “Our aim is to pick only athletes who are capable of winning medals for Nigeria at the World Junior Championship.

About five of our junior athletes, including Favour Ofili, are currently in Tokyo for the Olympics Games, and they will join us in Kenya. Athletes all over the world have up to August 2 to qualify for the U20 Championship, and we are working hard to get the best athletes for Team Nigeria,” Okowa stated.