Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, charged Nigeria’s contingent to the All Africa Games taking place in Ghana to conquer the continent.
Addressing the athletes onboard the aircraft scheduled to take them to Ghana for the tournament shortly before takeoff at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, the Minister assured them that the entire nation was solidly behind them.
He further stated that although some of the athletes may be representing the country for the first time, the tournament affords them the opportunity to make the nation proud.
Senator Enoh urged the departing athletes to build on the strong performance of the country in the previous games by posting a strong performance that will ensure that Nigeria emerges the best in Africa.
“Let me remind you that you carry the hopes and aspirations of the entire country. As a government, the current administration will encourage you to excel without any hindrance,” he said.
The Minister promised to promptly pay all the allowances due to the athletes, stating that no athlete would be shortchanged.
The 12th All Africa Games took place in Rabat, Morocco in 2019 and Nigeria came second position, having won 46 gold medals, 33 silver medals and 48 bronze medals.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) has announced that Nigeria will be represented by no fewer than 358 athletes across 25 sports at the 13th African Games.
In a statement released on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Lagos, the Public Relations Officer of NOC, Tony Nezianya, provided details of Nigeria’s participation in the event, scheduled to take place from March 8 to 23 in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast.
Nezianya stated that “Nigeria is competing in 25 sports at the event. Nigerian athletes were accredited at the Delegation Registration Meeting conducted on March 4.”
The breakdown of athletes participating in each sport is as follows:
Arm Wrestling: 15 athletes
Athletics: 50 athletes
Badminton: 12 athletes
Basketball 3 x 3: 4 female athletes
Beach Volleyball: 4 athletes
Boxing: 11 athletes
Chess: 4 athletes
Cricket: 15 athletes
Cycling: 12 athletes
Hockey: 32 athletes
Football: 40 athletes
Handball: 14 athletes
Judo: 10 athletes
Karate: 14 athletes
Mixed Martial Arts: 4 athletes
Rugby: 16 athletes
Scrabble: 8 athletes
Swimming: 4 athletes
Table Tennis: 10 athletes
Taekwondo: 14 athletes
Tennis: 8 athletes
Triathlon: 4 athletes
Volleyball: 24 athletes
Weightlifting: 12 athletes
Wrestling: 14 athletes
