Ofili, Okezie made our job easy in Bahamas, says AFN

UNITED States- based board member of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria ( AFN), Victor Okorie, has singled out the duo of Favour Ofili and Chidi Okezie as the brain behind the qualification of four Nigerian relay teams for Paris 2024 Olympics at the recently concluded World Relays in Bahamas.

Team Nigeria picked four out of five relay tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympics Games in Bahamas. Speaking with The Guardian from his base in the U. S., yesterday, Okorie, who was part of AFN officials to the Caribbean Island, said: “I know that all the athletes did their best in ensuring our qualification, but I must praise Ofili for her doggedness in the women’s 4x100m relay and Okezie for his never- say- die attitude in both the mixed relay and men’s 4x400 relay.”

In Bahamas, the reigning African Games 400m champion, Okezie, won the hearts of the spectators at the stadium, when he powered

Nigeria’s mixed relay team to seal their spot at the Olympics for the second consecutive time with a time of 3: 13.79.

The quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Okezie and Esther Elo Joseph competed in the second heat alongside the reigning World Champions, USA, Bahrain and South Africa. Ogazi ran a tactical race despite overcoming a sluggish start to hand the baton to Onojuvwevwo, who went neck and neck with USA’S Lynna Irby Jackson. She handed the baton to Okezie, who overtook the lead from USA after going past Ryan Willie in the bend with fastest overall split of 44.78s. Esther Elo Joseph took over and held on to the lead until the last 100m, where Kendall Elis surged through to retake the lead, bringing the stick round in a Championships Record ( CR) of 3: 11.52, while Team Nigeria placed second with a time of 3: 13.79.

The mixed relay team got a cash prize reward of $ 8000 ( N11,144,000) for its effort.