Nigeria To Field 358 Athletes In 25 Sports At 2023 African Games

Team Nigeria will be represented with no fewer than 358 athletes at the 13th African Games which officially opens in Accra, Ghana on March 8th .

The Games are to run from March 8th to 23rd in multiple cities of Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.

Nigeria is competing in 25 sports disciples at the event with athletics presenting the most athletes with 50 sportsmen and women.

Notable athletes that will hoist Nigeria’s flag in athletics are Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Oyesade Olatoye, Ruth Usoro, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Consider Ekanem.

In Badminton, the task of winning medals have been entrusted in the hands of 12 badminton players including Anuoluwapo Opeyori, Godwin Olofua, Dorcas Adesokan among others.

11 boxers will carry Nigeria’s hope and aspirations for medals in the Boxing event. Olaitan Olaore, Ifeanyi Onyekwere, Cynthia Ogunsemilore and Ifeoma Umunnakwe are among the boxers.

There are 14 handballers who will be gunning for medals for Nigeria while Quadri Aruna is the top star among the 10 Table Tennis players. Others expected to shine in Ghana are Olajide Omotayo, Taiwo Mati, Matthew Kuti, Edem Offiong, Hope Udoaka, Esther Oribamise and others.

The Under 20 team led by Ladan Bosso will represent Nigeria in the make football event. He has picked Nathaniel Nwosu, Daniel Daga, Izuogu Chibueze, Charles Agada, while Faith Omilana, who kept for the Flamingos at the last Under 17 Women’s World Cup; Jumoke Alani, Shola Shobowale; Blessing Okpe; Chiamaka Okwuchukwu; Chioma Olise, Motunrayo Ezekiel among others are the Falconets for the women’s football event.

In the Taekwondo event, Elizabeth Anyanacho headlines the list of 14 Taekwondo athletes who will be representing Nigeria in Accra, Ghana. Anyanacho recently bagged an Olympic Games ticket in the sport and she’s expected to use the African Games to test her readiness for the Olympics.

Wilson Igbinovia, Uchenna Oparaoji, David Ekpeyong, Marylove Edward, Oyinlomo Quadre, and four others are in the list of the Tennis players for Team Nigeria while Rafiatu Lawal, Adijat Olarinoye, Joy Ogbonne Eze, Edidiong Umuafia, Ruth Ayodele, Mary Osijo and six others will vie for honours in the Weightlifting event.

In Wrestling, Mercy Genesis, Odunayo Adekuoroye, Esther Kolawole, Blessing Oborududu and 10 others have been listed to help increase Team Nigeria’s medals haul.

The athletes were accredited at the Delegation Registration Meeting conducted on March 4, 2024.