Sports Minister, Okowa praise athletes as team returns from Mauritius

[FILES] Stadium track; EMORYWHEEL

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The first batch of Nigeria’s contingent to Mauritius 2022 African Senior Athletics Championship returned to the country yesterday with Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, praising the athletes for their third-place finish.

Also, the president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has hailed the athletes, saying that the future is bright for the nation’s athletics.

Despite missing some of her top-rated athletes, including Tokyo Olympics medallist, Ese Brume, Team Nigeria was able to put up a credible outing in Mauritius, showing her strength in both track and field events, capturing a total of 11 medals made up of five gold, three silver and three bronze medals to finish third on the medal table behind Kenya and South Africa.

Dare said the performance of the athletes underlines the positive attitude of Nigerian sportsmen and women, as well as the fighting spirit that makes them succeed against all odds and thrive in the most difficult situations.

“Even in the absence of some of our top-rated athletes, who could not make it to Mauritius, Team Nigeria still fought gallantly and defended our colours brilliantly. We are so proud of them,” the minister said.

Okowa said the team’s performance gives him cause for optimism. “We have every reason to celebrate because the project we started just under a year ago is already bearing fruits,” an elated Okowa stated.

Okowa reveals that the federation’s investment in the youth and junior athletes is paying off handsomely. “Most of our top athletes who have been doing great things in the American collegiate circuit were not in Mauritius due to school commitments, but we have been able to show our strength