Nigeria ready for Morocco 2019 African Games, says Adesola

Nigerian athletes are ready to compete against their peers from across the continent when the Africa Games begin in Morocco, the Ministry of Sports has disclosed.

The 12th African Games, which will see athletes from 53 countries compete for honours in 23 sports, will kick off on August 19 in four venues.

According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Olusade Adesola, the government in conjunction with the sports federations has put everything in place to ensure that the athletes are in top form for the games.

He disclosed that Nigeria would feature in 17 events, including athletics, aquatic sports, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, chess, gymnastics, judo, karate, football, rowing, shooting and table tennis at the games.

According to Adesola, the ministry has opened camps in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa from where the athletes would be selected for the journey to Morocco on August 16.

“We are also in touch with those in the diaspora, some of who are involved in different championships.

“I will soon start a tour of the camps to know the state of things, but I want to assure Nigerians that we doing the right things to get our athletes ready,” he said.

At the recent draws for the football event, Nigeria was drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Burkina Faso and South Africa.

In Group B, are defending champions, Senegal, Ghana, Burundi and Mali.