The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Tuesday released a final list of 17 athletes expected to don the green and white colours at the forthcoming IAAF World Championships. The new team is six athletes short of the initial squad of 23 released immediately after the All Nigeria Athletics Championships in Warri, Delta State.
Leading Team Nigeria to Beijing is Commonwealth double GOLD medallist, Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor, who will be aiming for a podium finish in the 100m amongst other events. She will be joined by Gloria Asumnu, Stephanie Kalu, Cecilia Francis, Deborah Odeyemi, Patience Okon George and Regina George.
Completing the list are Oluwatosin Adeloye, Margaret Etim, Rita Ossai, Uhunoma Osazuwa, Doreen Amata, Lindsay Wenyimi, Amaka Ogoegbunam, Miles Ukaoma, Odele Tega and former Commonwealth champion in the Triple Jump, Tosin Oke.
The athletes dropped from the initial list include Ogho-Oghene Egwero (100m), Ese Brume (Long Jump), Tyrone Akins (110 Hurdles), Funke Oladoye (4x400m), Chinwe Okoro (Discus) and Ngozi Onwumere (4x100m). However, no information was given as to why they were left out of the team ahead of the event slated to hold from August 22 to 30.
