By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-04-16 04:03:34
The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) is gearing up for the upcoming African Senior Championships, with plans being revved up to ensure a successful event. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is also celebrating the recent qualification of U.S.-based Nigerian speed star, Favour Ofili, for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games.
Ofili, who is an African record holder, secured her spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics by running a sensational time of 22.33 seconds in the 200m race at the Tom Jones Memorial Classic in Gainesville, Florida. This time surpassed the Olympic benchmark of 22.57 seconds, earning her a ticket to the prestigious event. It was her fastest time this season, following her impressive performance of 10.85s at the Battle of the Bayou just two weeks prior.
This achievement marks Ofili’s second chance to compete at the Olympics, as she was previously unable to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Games due to disqualification by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Alongside some other Nigerian athletes, she failed to meet the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 of the AIU. AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, expressed his joy at Ofili’s qualification and commended other Nigerian athletes who have also secured their spots at the Paris Olympics.
Okowa highlighted the growing list of Nigerian athletes heading to Paris, including World Record holders Tobi Amusan in the women’s 100m hurdles, Ezekiel Nathaniel in the men’s 400m hurdles, Edose Ibadin in the men’s 800m, Ruth Usoro in the Triple and Long Jump, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in shotput, and Favour Ashe in the 100m event. With a strong team set to represent Nigeria in Paris, Okowa is confident in their ability to perform well at the Olympic Games.
As the president of Africa Region 2 Athletics and one of the vice presidents of CAA, Okowa is currently attending a strategic meeting in Cameroon to finalize plans for the African Senior Athletics Championships set to take place in Douala in June. The meeting aims to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place for a successful and smoothly run championship event.
Overall, the AFN and CAA are working tirelessly to support and showcase African athletic talent on the international stage. With athletes like Favour Ofili leading the way and a strong team representing Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the future looks bright for African athletics. As preparations continue for the African Senior Championships, excitement is building for what promises to be an unforgettable event showcasing the best of African talent in track and field.
