Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AfFN) hierarchy and expectant spectators at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State went into carnivalike mode following Nigeria’s men 4x100m quartet ticket for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Nigeria relay team B placed second while Gambia placed third position but didn’t qualify.
It was Nigeria team’s fifth attempt at aiming to come up with a performance that will see them in the top 16 qualifiers.
Running Thursday evening with competition from Gambia, Benin Republic, and Nigeria team B at the Warri Grandprix and Relays, Ashe Favour, Alaba Akintola, Ajayi Kanisola and Godson Brume rise up to the occasion and they produced 38.26 seconds, which has put them in a joint 13th position with Kenya in the top 16 qualified nations.
It was an improvement on the 38.56seconds they did at the DT meet in Lagos.
Extremely thrilled by the latest development, AFN President Tonobok Okowa joyfully said, “finally we have nailed it after good effort,
He hailed the Athletes and assured that camping will commence soon to enable them warmed up to the Championship in good Competitive form, insisting that Nigeria’s official team to the mundial would be unveiled after a meeting with Sports Ministry officials.
He also ruled out any form of qualification meet for the Athletes, saying “I’m tired”
“We finally did it after all the hard work, the long travels and also the insults,” said AFN secretary-general Rita Mosindi.
“We are all overjoyed by this qualification, because it came with lots of efforts by the athletes and the AFN.”
The men’s 4x100m will join the rest of the teams that have already qualified for the Budapest 2023 World Championships. They include the women’s 4×100 and the mixed relay team.
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