The first contingent of Nigerian athletes has landed in Budapest, Hungary, in preparation for the World Athletics Championships set to take place from August 19 to 27, News About Nigeria reports.
While the team is gearing up for the competition, officials are eagerly awaiting clearance from the Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) for Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles.
The initial batch of Nigerian athletes departed from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on a Turkish Airlines flight.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s (AFN) Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, confirmed that most of the athletes, both in Nigeria and the United States, left for Budapest to acclimate to the weather and finalize their preparations.
AFN’s focus is on achieving strong results, especially in relays and various events. Onikeku expressed optimism about surprises similar to what Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume delivered at the Oregon World Championships.
He emphasized the goal of getting athletes into the finals and striving for medals.
Opeyemi Deborah Oke, a 400m runner, is anticipating a successful competition in her debut World Championships. She mentioned, “We have prepared very well and by the grace of God, we are looking forward to having a good outing.”
AFN President Tonobok Okowa, who is currently in Lagos, expressed his anticipation for positive news regarding Tobi Amusan’s clearance from the AIU.
As the Nigerian athletes settle into their preparations in Budapest, hopes remain alive, taking cue from the AFN that Tobi Amusan will come out clean after the AIU saga. Amusan remains one of the key strongholds of Nigeria’s athletics team.
