Record Entry Expected At Asaba 2018 Senior Athletics Tourney

Fifteen countries have already sent in their provisional list of athletes and officials ahead of the 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championships to be hosted in Asaba, Delta State.

After scoring a big point with the hosting of the inaugural edition of the Africa Junior Athletics Championship in Warri, which is the best in the series till date, Delta State is set for another big mark this time with the flagship Africa Senior Athletics Championships.

According to the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of Asaba 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships, Solomon Ogba, a record attendance is expected at the event.

Ogba said that for the first time in the history of the biennial athletics championship, all the countries in Africa would be represented in Asaba.

“I can guarantee you that we will be having a historic championship in Asaba as every country will be represented. The LOC will be sponsoring two athletes from all the countries so you can be sure that everybody will be present,” the former president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria assured.

Ogba who played a key role in the successful hosting of first Africa Youth Championships which has served as a template in subsequent editions disclosed that the aim is to also make Asaba 2018 the best ever in the history of the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.

“We want to set a new standard as far as the Africa Senior Athletics Championships is concerned, the goal is to make this edition as glamorous as the World Championships itself,” Ogba stressed.

Aside from Nigeria who have entered 72 male,  69 female and 29 officials, the likes of Kenya, Algeria and Senegal are also planning a large contingent for the Athletics Championships in Asaba.

Kenya have provisionally entered 34 male and 27 female athletes as well as 11 officials.

Algeria have 31 male male and 29 female athletes on their roster with 17 officials,

Senegal have entered 30 male male and 30 female athletes as well as nine officials.

The Asaba 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championship takes place at the Asaba Township Stadium between August 1and 5.    

 

The full breakdown of countries

 

Country	Male Athletes	Female Athletes	Officials
Algeria	31	29	17
Cape Verde	3	3	2
Congo	14	8	0
Djibouti	7	1	3
Nigeria	72	69	29
Senegal	30	30	9
Seychelles	7	2	2
Togo	10	5	5
Cote d’Ivoire	16	21	9
Rwanda	2	2	3
Mauritius	10	5	3
Gambia	7	1	6
Egypt	11	11	5
Kenya	34	27	11
Congo	11	6	7