A delegation consisting of four Nigerian weightlifters and four officials has successfully arrived in Egypt for the 2024 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship.
The contingent, comprising three women and one man, departed from Nigeria on Saturday morning via the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
The championship, scheduled to take place in Ismailla, Egypt, will not only be a platform for continental glory but also serve as a crucial Olympic qualifier for the Paris 2024 Games.
The Nigerian lifters aiming to bolster their chances of securing tickets to the Paris Games include Rafiatu Folashade Lawal and Adijat Adenike Olarinoye in the 59kg women’s category.
Additionally, Joy Ogbonne Eze will compete in the 71kg women’s category, while Umoafia Edidiong Joseph will represent Nigeria in the 73kg men’s category.
The contingent is accompanied by four officials, featuring three coaches – Janet Ali, Abdulsalam Kayode, and Onubaye Sefiat. Iquaibom Lawrence will serve as a referee during the championship.
Nigeria’s participation in the competition kicks off on Tuesday, February 6, with Rafiatu Lawal and Adijat Olarinoye taking the stage in the 59kg women’s category.
Later that day, Umoafia Edidiong will compete in the 73kg men’s category. On Wednesday, February 7, Joy Eze will conclude Nigeria’s participation by challenging lifters in the 71kg women’s category.
The previous edition of the championship in Tunisia in May 2023 saw Nigeria clinch an impressive tally of 12 medals, including three gold, seven silver, and two bronze.
As the weightlifters gear up for the 2024 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship, they aim to replicate and possibly surpass their previous success on the continental stage.
Following this event, the weightlifters will have another opportunity to qualify for the Paris Games at the IWF World Cup scheduled for March 31 to April 11, 2024, in Phuket, Thailand.
The final list of athletes qualifying for the 2024 Paris Games will be determined through the IWF World Rankings.
