AFN Reopens Camp for Junior African Championships Preparation

• AFN has reopened camping following trials for the championship.
• The AFN is set to announce the final list of selected athletes soon.
• Despite rain, 12 events concluded at the national trials successfully.
• Gafar Badmus excelled in the U-20 men’s 400m with a winning time of 45.78s.
• Success Oyibu surprised with a stunning finish in the U-20 women’s 200m.

AFN Reopens Camp for Upcoming Championships

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has reopened its training camp as part of the preparations for the upcoming Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 championships scheduled to take place in Abeokuta, Ogun State from July 16 to 20. This decision comes after a two-day national trial, where additional athletes were selected to represent Nigeria in this prestigious event. Following the completion of the trials at Gateway Stadium on Tuesday, the newly selected athletes have commenced their training at the Sagamu camp, indicating a significant push by the AFN to ensure a robust representation at the championships.

Standout Performances in National Trials

Ahead of the championships, the AFN had called upon 90 junior athletes to join the training camp back in June, setting the stage for competitive trials. The organization plans to release the final list of athletes for the championships shortly, as other participating nations have already finalized their selections. Despite poor weather conditions, a total of 12 events were concluded on the final day of the trials with standout performances. Notably, Gafar Badmus clinched the U-20 men’s 400m title with a time of 45.78 seconds, solidifying his position among the top athletes. David Akhalu also had a commendable outing, finishing second with a personal best of 46.34 seconds, while Ezekiel Eno followed closely behind in 46.42 seconds, marking his first sub-47 second performance.

Young Talents Make Their Mark

In the U-18 girls’ 200m, Miracle Ezechukwu displayed dominance, triumphing with a time of 24.06 seconds, while Rosemary Nwankwo and Mariam Jegede rounded out the top three. Meanwhile, in the U-20 women’s category, Success Oyibu astonished everyone by defeating reigning National Sports Festival gold medallist, Cynthia Nweke, with a remarkable run of 23.80 seconds. This race saw Nweke finishing in third with a time of 24.20 seconds, behind Lucy Nwankwo’s impressive personal best of 24.15 seconds. Another young talent, Perfect Faye shone in the U-18 boys’ 200m, securing his victory with a new personal best of 21.68 seconds. John Caleb also had a noteworthy performance in the men’s 200m final, solidifying his sprint capabilities with a clocking of 21.37 seconds.

The AFN’s renewed camp signifies a commitment to preparing young athletes for international competition. With many showcasing their talents in the recent trials, anticipation builds for the upcoming championships. The performances, particularly by athletes like Badmus, Ezechukwu, and Oyibu, indicate Nigeria’s potential to excel on the African stage.