African Athletics Championships: Can Okagbare, Oduduru lead Nigeria to victory?

Delta State of Nigeria will be agog, as all African representatives will arrive the city for 21st African Athletics Championships taking place in Asaba.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have released a list of 95 athletes selected to represent the country at the 2018 championship, which on Wednesday 18th, 2018.

Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, Divine Oduduru are some of the leading names who will be flying Nigeria’s colours at the Championships which will take place from August 1st-5th.

There were also new inclusions in the team, with Michael Edwards who has a Personal Best of 2.25m in the men’s High Jump, finally getting an opportunity to represent Nigeria having been cleared to make the switch from Great Britain.

There are other inclusions in the team like 2018 Commonwealth 100m Hurdles Gold medallist, Tobi Amusan who will be competing in her first African Senior Athletics Championships.

In the men’s 100m, Seye Ogunlewe who came very close to a podium placement at the Commonwealth Games will be one of the contenders for the title, alongside his compatriot Enoch Adegoke who ran a lifetime’s Best of 10.19s in Australia.

Ese Brume will be hoping she can retain her Long Jump title, and with a Season’s Best of 6.82m, she will definitely be the one to beat.

South Africa won the last edition two years ago in Durban, with Kenya finishing second and Nigeria 3rd. Buoyed by home support.

Can the likes of Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor and Divine Oduduru lead Nigeria to success, as the country will be hoping to improve on their finish in 2016.