The Federal Ministry of Sports in Nigeria has officially disclosed the list of sports in which the country will participate in the 13th African Games, set to take place in Ghana from March 8 to March 23. Additionally, the ministry has revealed the names of athletes who have qualified for the Olympics scheduled for Paris, France, from July 26 to Aug. 11.
Amaka Ashiofu, the Acting Director of Federation, Elites, and Athletes Development (FEAD), made these announcements during a meeting with various sports federations in Abuja on Thursday.
Nigeria is gearing up to participate in a diverse range of 23 sports at the African Games, including athletics, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, wrestling, and more. Ashiofu emphasised the openness of the African Games, which will also feature three demonstration sports: mixed martial arts, scrabble, and teqball.
As preparations intensify for the Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to Aug. 11, Nigeria aims to excel in 12 sports. The qualified sports include athletics, boxing, canoeing, wrestling, basketball women, badminton, football women, rowing, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, and weightlifting.
Ashiofu highlighted the qualified athletes in athletics, namely Tobi Amusan for Women’s 100m, Ezekiel Nathanial in Men’s 400m, and Edose Egbadi participating in Men’s 800m. Three boxers—Olaitan Olaore, Dalapo Omole, and Cynthia Ogunsimilore—have also secured their spots in various categories. Additionally, athletes in canoeing, women’s road racing, and wrestling, including Odunayo Adegoroye for Women’s freestyle 57kg, have qualified.
For the Paralympics following the Olympics, Nigeria plans to participate in five sports: Para athletics, Para Powerlifting, Para Table Tennis, Para Badminton, and Para Canoeing. The ministry is actively working to identify training camps in Abuja and Lagos, depending on the number of athletes qualifying for the Games.