Sports Minister Praises Team Nigeria Athletes At African Championships
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, heaped praised on the performance of Team Nigeria athletes that represented the nation at the just concluded African Senior Athletics Championships in Mauritius.
Team Nigeria with five Gold, three Silver and three Bronze medals finished behind Kenya and South Africa who had 10 and 9 Gold medals, respectively. Nigeria finished third on the final medals table, finishing with 11 medals in total at the 22nd edition of the African Senior Athletics Championship.
Dare noted that despite missing some of their top rated athletes, Nigeria still put up a credible outing at the competition, showing her strength in depth in both track and field events.
“Even in the absence of some of our top rated athletes who could not make it to Mauritius, Team Nigeria still fought gallantly and defended our colours brilliantly,” Dare said. “We are so proud of them.”
On the final day of the African Championships in Mauritius, Team Nigeria recorded its biggest medal haul in a day since in the history of the African Senior Athletics Championships.
Nigeria carted away four medals — one GOLD, one Silver and two Bronze medals — thereby amassing a total of 11 medals in the competition.
Dare said the performance of the athletes underlines the positive attitude of Nigerian sports men and women, as well as the fighting spirit that makes them succeed against all odds, and thrive in the most difficult situations.
Chidi Nwoke/The Nation.
