By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-02-15 04:04:26
Nigeria’s finest athletes are set to gather in Asaba beginning on February 16 for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s (AFN) Making of Champions (MoC) trials. This event, scheduled to take place at the Stephen Keshi Stadium from February 17 to 20, 2024, will serve as a platform to select athletes for the upcoming Africa Games in Accra, Ghana in March.
The focal point of the trials will be the Women’s 100m event. The competition promises to be intense with Tima Godbless, Favour Ofili, and Rosemary Chukwuma as the top contenders for the title. Chukwuma recently ran a personal best time of 7.11 seconds in her debut 60m race of the season. Young athletes such as Faith Okwose and Tiana Eyakpobeyan will be aiming to leave their mark and possibly earn their first senior national call-up in the 4x100m relay team during the Asaba Trials.
Another highly anticipated event will be the Men’s 400m, featuring NCAA standout athlete, Dubem Nwachukwu. Nwachukwu, who had an outstanding performance in the NCAA in 2023, is expected to shine once again. Samuel Ogazi, a new sensation in the sport, will also be competing for his first senior title after an impressive undefeated performance in the 2023 season. Other top contenders for the Africa Games include Ifeanyi Ojeli, Raphael Egbuchulem, and Samson Nathaniel.
The field events will have their share of excitement with Ese Brume and Ruth Usoro competing in the Long Jump. World silver medallist Brume is expected to be the favorite for the Women’s Long Jump title, but she will face tough competition from Usoro, who has also been performing exceptionally well this season.
In the women’s Discus throw, Chioma Onyekwere, Ashley Anumba, and Obiageri Amaechi will be vying for the top spot in Asaba. Meanwhile, United States-based athletes Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (men’s shot put) and Nnamdi Chinecherem (javelin throw) are expected to secure victory in their respective events.
Exciting new talent is also poised to make an impact at the Asaba National Trials. One such athlete is Temitope Adeshina, a high jumper based in the United States who recently set a new national high jump record. Adeshina’s performance at the Corky Classic in Texas saw her clear the height of 1.96m, just shy of the Olympics qualification standard. Another newcomer to watch out for is Consider Ekanem, whose impressive 100m performance of 10.10 seconds has garnered significant attention in the athletics community.
The Asaba Trials are sure to captivate and inspire as Nigeria’s best athletes compete for the opportunity to represent their country at the Africa Games. With established stars and budding talents set to take center stage, the event promises to showcase the nation’s athletic prowess and celebrate the future of Nigerian sports.
