Nigerian athletes asked to stay positive as AFN unveils kits

Pius Ayinor

Nigeria’s long jump record holder and Olympian, Yusuf Alli (8.27m) has urged Team Nigeria athletes to maintain a strong and positive mental strength as the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA), U-18/U-20 Championships begins in Abeokuta.

Alli who said this during the AFN unveiling ceremony of Team Nigeria athletes and kits, noted that the athletes have to perform well in CAA U18 and U20 Championships to make their mark for the future.

“You are in this competition to make your mark and move forward with good results and not essentially to win,” the head of elite athletes in the National Sports Commission said.

 “Winning will come, but first push yourself at this level to the next level, that’s how we all grew.”

The former Chairman of Edo State Sports Commission insisted that, the CAA U18/U20 Championships came at such a time when National Sports Festival the United States Collegiate Athletics season just ended and this would assist Team Nigeria athletes to excel.

Also in Abeokuta on Tuesday, Team Nigeria athletes and kits was unveiled in Abeokuta, Today, as a total of 92 athletes would be representing Nigeria in the CAA U-18 and U-20 Championships.

The AFN President Tonobok Okowa asked the athletes to seize the opportunity the competition had provided to excel.

He reiterated that the Federation, National Sports Commission (NSC) and government have provided golden opportunity for them to succeed.

“I charge you to go out there and make Nigeria proud”