Nigeria sure of IAAF U-20 Championships participation

With less than eight days to the commencement of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U-20 Championships, the national junior athletes may not go into camping for the competition.

But Solomon Ogba, the President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has said that even without camping, the junior athletes will feature in the competition in Poland.

The championships are to hold from July 19 to July 24 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Ogba, who gave an indication that funds were not forthcoming for the athletes to feature in international tournaments, said that he would ensure their participation.

“For me, the young athletes must go for the world championships. I am really concerned because they are young and they need the exposure. It must be understood that these athletes are the future of Nigerian sports, if they are not encouraged to participate in international events, they will not develop,” he said.

Reacting to the delay in releasing the names of athletes for the world championships, Ogba said: “We wanted to conclude the Olympics trials and Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Grand Prix”.

It will be recalled that the All Nigeria Athletics Championships, meant to select Nigeria’s representative to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games held in Sapele, Delta, from July 7 to July 9.

Also the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Grand Prix held in Sapele too on July 9.

In spite of the cash crunch affecting the country’s sports, the enthusiasts are hopeful that the athletes will prove their mettle like their senior counterparts who participated in the African Athletics Senior Championships. (NAN)