After travel glitches that saw some teams stranded at the Lagos Airport for some days, the stage is now set for action at the 21st African Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Delta State.
The biennial event which will run from 1st August to 5th will be officially opened on Wednesday at the newly-completed Stephen Keshi stadium.
This edition will have five new entries – increasing the number of participating nations to a record 52 competing in around 44 events.
The tournament returns to Nigeria after nearly three decades.
And the country will be hoping same good fortune smiles on them this time having finished top of the podium.
South Africa has dominated the last 10 editions – winning six of those including the last two.
Nigeria, meanwhile, has won just twice with Kenya and Algeria clinching one apiece.
South Africa’s world and Olympic 800 meters champion Caster Semenya is on the line to represent her nation once again and it would be a major upset if she misses out on the gold in Asaba.
Semenya won gold medals in the 800m, 1500m and 4x400m at the last African Championships in Durban two years ago.
Also, world long jump champion, Luvo Manyonga, is in the South Africa squad that are raring to go in Asaba.
Nigeria’s medal hopes will be on Chukwuebuka Enekwechi in the Shot-Put event.
Enekwechi took the silver medal behind New Zealand’s world champion Tomas Walsh at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast in April.
Other strong home prospects include Tobi Amusan in the women’s 100m hurdles who won gold in the women’s 100m hurdles event at the last Commonwealth Games.
Sprint duo, Blessing Okagbare and Seye Ogunlewe are others who could stake a claim for medals.
