Ofili, Onojuvwevwo, Ogazi, Godbless, 24 other track and field stars set to make their Olympic Games debut in Paris

According to Complete Sports, Nigeria’s number one digital newspaper, as many as 28 out of the 35 athletes Athletics Federation of Nigeria selected to represent Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be making their debuts at te quadrennial event.

Leading the list of these debutants and debutantes are Favour Ofili who is expected to compete in the 100m and 200m events and Samuel Ogazi who will compete in the men’s 400m.

Ofili has been widely acknowledged as one of the sprinters in the team that can end Nigeria’s 12 year wait for a 100m final appearance since Blessing Okagbare made it to the 2012 final as well as a 28 year for an appearance in the 200m final.

The 21 year old is also considered one of the favourites for a podium performance in the 200m after Mary Onyali first did in 1996 in Atlanta, USA.

Also set to make her debut and end that 12 year wait for a 100m final appearance is Rosemary Chukwuma who stormed to a 10.88 lifetime best in the NCAA circuit this year, a performance that makes her a candidate for the 100m final if she can replicate that form.

Tima Godbless will also be making her debut and the 19 year old will be hoping to prove a point as one of the emerging stars of the event in Paris.

In the women’s 400m, Ella Onojuvwevwo, seen as the new Falilat Ogunkoya following her incredible performance in the NCAA outdoor circuit this year will be also be in Paris for her first Olympic experience and the 19 year old will be keen to make a historic debut by becoming the first Nigerian woman since 2000 to run in the final of the event after Ogunkoya did in Sydney, Australia.

Also making their debut are Chioma Onyekwere, Ruth Usoro, Sade Olatoye, Prestina Ochonogor, Temitope Adeshina, Ashley Anumba and Obiageri Amaeachi in the field event as well as sprinters Olajide Olayinka, Tianna Eyakpobeyan and 400m runner, Elo Esther Joseph.

For the men, the sprint quintet of Favour Ashe, Godson Oghenebrume, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Alaba Akintola and Udodi Onwuzurike will be appearing at the Games for the first time in their career.

So also will be Nathaniel Ezekiel, Chidi Okezie, Dubem Nwachukwu, Dubem Amene, Adeyemi Sikiru, Samuel Ogazi, Ibadin Edose, Nnamdi Chinecherem and Israel Okon.