2024 National Athletics Trials: MoC tips Nigerian relay team for success in Paris 2024 Olympics

Posted : 13 June 2024

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Bambo Akani, Founder of Making of Champions (MoC) Grand Prix, on Thursday, tipped Nigeria's relay teams to replicate their previous form at the Olympics by ensuring a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics in France.

Akani, in an exclusive interview against the backdrop of the 2024 National Athletics Trials, said he expected Nigerian relay teams to perform well at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The 2024 National Athletics Trials are scheduled to be held in Benin City, Edo State, from June 16 to June 18, 2024, as athletes fight for a place to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Douala African Senior Athletics Championships.

Expectedly, in the relay races, four Nigerian relay teams have secured Olympic berths at the recently concluded 2024 World Relays in the Bahamas.

The success in the Bahamas showcases the caliber of Nigerian relay teams when it comes to relay events.

Akani, speaking about expectations from the national trials, said he expected the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to select the best athletes to represent Nigeria.

"The fact remains that we have quality sprinters who are performing well. They may not be among the fastest men right now, but they will surely get there at the right time," he said.

Akani also declared that Nigeria has what it takes to dominate athletics in Africa, as was the case in the early and late 90s.

"Fortunately, Nigeria has the tools and the caliber of athletes that can compete with the rest of the world, including the fastest among them all.

"We have athletes like Godson Brume and Favour Ashe who are showing promising times in Africa.

"I also expect that the current Nigerian stars will be the most exciting athletes after some setbacks in the last decade.

"I foresee a golden era where Nigeria will lead athletics in Africa," he said.

Regarding expectations for Nigeria's relay teams at the Olympics, Akani said that the event should secure at least two medals for Nigeria.

"If we look at the medals Nigeria has won in the past Olympics, we will see that relay teams have contributed the highest number with 8 medals.

"This shows that our best chances at the Olympics for winning medals lie in the relay teams. But have we been organized enough to assemble strong relay teams?

"Do we have the caliber of relay teams needed to compete for medals? Perhaps the National Trials in Benin will solve this puzzle because it is intriguing that our relay teams have won four medals in past Olympics.

"Nigeria has consistently won medals in each of its recent Olympic appearances, and now we are introducing the mixed 4x400 relay, which has just been added to the Olympics," he said.

Akani emphasized that both the men's and women's 4x100 relays are strong bets for Nigeria and should be focused on.

"To be realistic, since Nigeria has qualified for four out of five relay events, we should perform well in the relay races.

"I expect us to win medals in each of the relay events at the Olympics, but realistically we should aim for at least two medals.

"I am optimistic about all the teams, but I think the women's 4x100 relay particularly has a great chance, as well as the men's 4x100 and 4x400 relays, both men and women.

"We also have a chance in the mixed relay, and people should watch out for the men's 4x100," he concluded.

2024 National Athletics Trials: MoC tips Nigerian relay team for success in Paris 2024 Olympics

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