Athletes to face major test in Abuja, Awka

Team Nigeria has arranged two more competitions for track and field athletes in Abuja and Akwa to test their skill ahead the Commonwealth Games in England<br />

• AFN’s Trials For Home-based Stars Ends In Lagos

To assemble a formidable athletics squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Team Nigeria has concluded plans to stage two more athletics trials for home-based stars in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Awka, Anambra State.

The Second All-Comers Competition, which was organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), to select home-based athletes to camp ahead of the Africa Senior Athletics Championship in Mauritius ended at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, yesterday with the athletes showing classic feats.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, the Coordinator of Team Nigeria for the Commonwealth Games, Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Alli, stated that there was the need to further test the athletes’ ability so as to get the best legs for the Commonwealth Games in England.

“This AFN’s trials are basically for home-based athletes,” Alli said. “Some of our top athletes are not in Nigeria at the moment. What we have agreed to do before inviting athletes to camp is to compete in two more races in Abuja and Awka. The one in Abuja will hold between May 12 and 13, while the Akwa leg will hold on May 21. With that, I am sure we will be able to assemble the best crop of track and field stars before the AFN National Trials ahead of the Commonwealth Games in England.”

Alli, who was the captain of Team Nigeria in two consecutive Olympic Games in 1984 and 1988, is expected to bring his experiences as a former athlete and his expertise as an administrator to bear on Nigeria’s