AFN names six debutants, nine others for World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has named six debutants on its list of 15 athletes selected to represent Nigeria at the 20th World Athletics Championships which start in a fortnight in Tokyo, Japan.
Top on the list of the debutants is reigning African Games 400m king, Chidi Okezie who made his Olympic debut just last year. He is one of two selected athletes who qualified to represent Nigeria in the 400m event.
The second athlete is Samuel Ogazi, who, like Okezie, also made his Olympic debut last year in Paris where he got all the way to the final of the 400m.
Okezie and Ogazi have been tasked with the job of returning Nigeria to the final of the event since Sunday Bada (now late) did in 1995 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Also on the trip to Tokyo is another Olympian, Prestina Ochonogor who will be competing in the women’s Long Jump event alongside veteran and twice medalist, Ese Brume.
The 100m duo of Kanyinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon, both from Auburn University in the USA will also be competing in the championships for the first time.
Ajayi, the fastest Nigerian this year at 9.92 seconds was at the Olympics last year and will be adding the World Championships to his resume this year.
Okon also made the list to the Olympics as one of the relay legs, and will also be on the trip to Tokyo this time as a competitor in the 100m event.
Another long jumper, Charles Godfred has also been listed for the Championships.. and it is first major championships for Nigeria.
Nine others who have been at the competition in the past have also been listed with former World 100m hurdles champion and reigning record holder, Tobi Amusan top on the list.
Amusan made history three years ago when she stormed home to gold in Oregon, USA to make history as the first Nigerian, man or woman, to win a World outdoor title.. and she did it in a record smashing fashion, stopping the clocking at 12.12 seconds on her way to winning the gold in a 12.06 wind-assisted time in the final.
Brume is also returning to the Championships after winning bronze and silver in 2019 and 2022. She is aiming to extend her record of winning a world championships title in the same event three times.
Sprinter, Rosemary Chukwu will be the lone campaigner in the women’s 100m event following the absence of Tima Gidbless and Favour Ofili who is seeking to change allegiance to Turkey.
Discus throwers, Chioma Onyekwere Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi will be hoping to transfer the 2022 Commonwealth Games stage to Tokyo as they bid to repeat history as the first Nigerian medalists in the event at the World Championships.
Former World U20 200m champion, Udodi Onwuzuruike is staging a return to the Championships after making his debut in Oregon in 2022
Making an immediate return after debuting in 2023 is 400m hurdler, Nathaniel Ezekiel who is one of the athletes Nigerians are hoping could make the podium as well as African Shot Put King, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi who will be hoping for a return to the final after he finished just one spot shy the qualification spot in 2023.
The 32 year old finished in the top eight in 2019 and 11th out of 12 competitors in 2022.
