Sports
AYG: Coach Promises Record- Breaking Performance
The national hurdles coach of Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Tom Nnakwe yesterday said Team Nigeria would strive to surpass previous records at the African Youth Games (AYG).
Nnakwe told newsmen in Abuja that the team was determined to improve on previous performances.
He said Team Nigeria won 10 medals, comprising seven gold and three silver at the first edition held in Rabat, Morocco in 2010.
Nnakwe said that the team’s aim of surpassing the previous performance was achievable.
“In the previous African Championship, they came back with 10 medals, now that the NSC approved more athletes to participate in the competition, we are going to double the medals.
“You should expect a record breaking performance in our events and that is what has been on our mind,” the coach said.
He said the outcome of the AYG would determine if some of the athletes were good enough to compete with senior athletes at the Commonwealth Games.
“These Games are for the youth and the Commonwealth Games are basically for senior athletes with some outstanding junior athletes participating.
“So, may be we can have some of our junior athletes who are good enough to make the Commonwealth Games team.
“We are looking forward to that but we are taking one step at a time.
“After we finish with Botswana, we can now check our performance because we have some sprinters here that are doing very well,’’ Nnakwe said.
The AYG is schedule to hold in Gaborone, Botswana, from tomorrow to May 31.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.