Aliu Questions Nigeria’s Medal Prospects at World Athletics Championship
Written by Alonge Akinlolu on 13 — 09
Former Nigerian sprinter, Deji Aliu, has expressed doubts over Team Nigeria’s medal chances at the World Athletics Championship set to begin on Saturday in Tokyo.
Aliu, who won bronze at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, believes many of the 15 athletes listed for the competition are already worn out from a demanding National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) season. He warned that apart from 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan, and long jumper, Ese Brume, if she is fully fit, the team could return home without a podium finish.
The 2003 All Africa Games 100m gold medalist further described the composition of the squad as evidence of the decline of athletics in Nigeria. According to him, the current list does not reflect a deliberate effort by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to assemble genuine medal contenders.
