475 athletes for 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships
Ahead of the 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championships to be hosted in Asaba, Delta State, 15 countries have already sent in their provisional list of 475 athletes and 110 officials to feature in the championships.
Disclosing this yesterday, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for Asaba 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships, Solomon Ogba, said a record attendance is expected at the event.
Ogba added that for the first time in the history of the biennial athletics championship, all the countries in Africa would be represented in Asaba.
“I can guarantee you that we will be having a historic championship in Asaba as every country will be represented. The LOC will be sponsoring two athletes from all the countries so you can be sure that everybody will be present,” he said.
The former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, who played a key role in the successful hosting of first Africa Youth Championships which served as a template in subsequent editions, disclosed that the aim is to also make Asaba 2018 the best ever in the history of the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.
“We want to set a new standard as far as the Africa Senior Athletics Championships is concerned, the goal is to make this edition as glamorous as the World Championships itself,” Ogba stressed.
Besides Nigeria that have entered 72 male athletes, 69 female athletes and 29 officials, Kenya, Algeria and Senegal are also planning a large contingent for the Athletics Championships in Asaba.
Kenya have provisionally entered 34 male and 27 female athletes as well as 11 officials.
Algeria have 31male and 29 female athletes on their roster with 17 officials,
Senegal have entered 30male and 30 female athletes as well as nine officials.
The Asaba 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championship takes place at the Asaba Township Stadium between August 1 and 5.