Onwuzurike, Oghenebrume, Godbless out as AFN unveils 26-man list for World Athletics Championships

Sprinters Udodi Onwuzurike, Godson Oghenebrume and Tima Godbless will not be part of Team Nigeria’s contingent as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Tuesday unveiled the list of 26 athletes for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary later this month.

While Oghenebrume withdrew from the championships citing health reasons, Onwuzurike and Godbless failed to recover from their injuries.

Also missing from the list is sprint hurdler and reigning World 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan.

Amusan has been provisionally suspended following whereabouts failures charges by the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU.

The 26 year old is contesting the charges and, if cleared, may be included in the team to Budapest to defend her title.

Meanwhile, reigning Nigeria 100m champion, Ushoritse Itshekiri tops the list of 11 men listed for the championships while long jumper, Ese Brume will lead 15 other women to Budapest.

Commonwealth Youth Games gold and silver medalists, Faith Okwose and Eyakpobeyan Justina will run in the women’s 4x100m.

Ruth Usoro, the reigning Nigeria long jump champion will join Brume in the long jump event while Imaobong Nse Uko will run in the 400m event.

Nigeria will be represented in the Discus throw event by the trio of Chioma Onyekwere, Amaechi Obiageri Pamela and Ashley Anumba.

For the men, Dubem Nwachukwu will compete in the 400m while Ezekiel Nathaniel will run in the 400m hurdles.

Seye Ogunlewe will join Itshekiri and Favour Ashe to compete in the 100m.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will compete in the Shot Put and Alaba Akintola has been slated to compete in the 200m.

A total of six coaches led by chief Tony Osheku will accompany the team to Budapest.

Nigeria’s best perfromance at the championships was achieved last year when Amusan made history as the first Nigerian to win a world outdoor title and Brume the first medals to win in consecutive editions of the championships.

Nigeria also won two individual medals at the 1999 and 2013 editions in Seville, Spain and Moscow, Russia respectively.

While Ajayi Agbebaku made history as the first Nigerian to win a world championships medal (triple jump bronze in 1983), Blessing Okagbare is the only one to win two medals at the same edition of the competition (long jump silver and 200m bronze in Moscow, Russia in 2013).

MEN
Itshekiri Usheoritshe
Seye Ogunlewe
Alaba Akintola
Ashe Favour
Fakorede Adekalu
Karlington Anunagba
Dubem Nwachukwu
Nathaniel Ezekiel
Chidi Okezie
Samuel Ogazi
Enekwechi Chukwuebuka

WOMEN
Chukwuma Rosemary
Eyakpobeyan Justina
Okwose Faith
Umukoro Success
Ofili Favour
Uko Imaobong Nse
George Patience Oko
Oke Opeyemi Deborah
Onojuvwevwo Ella
Brume Ese
Usoro Ruth
Amaechi Obiageri Pamela
Anumba Ashley
Onyekwere Chioma
Hammer Olatoye Oyesade