SuperSport to showcase Nigerians

Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, SuperSport, will showcase the exploits of Nigerian stars at the 11th All-Africa Games on SuperSport 9, which begins, in the Republic of Congo, on September 4 - 19.

Team Nigeria is expected to put behind the poor outing they had at the 2015 World Championship in Beijing, to harvest medals.

The fact that top stars like sprint sensation, Blessing Okagbare, triple jumper, Doreen Amata and Long Jumper, Tosin Oke, reached the finals of their events, in Beijing, is good news.

Team Nigeria is tipped to shine in track and field and some of the athletes are keen to boost their records after excelling at the last Championship, in 2011.

Medal prospects include Okagbare, Oke, Amata as well as sprinters Seye Ogunlewe, Obinna Metu and Ogho-Oghene Egwero amongst others.

Also tipped to win medals are Gloria Asumnu, Stephanie Kalu, Deborah Odeyemi, Cecilia Francis and Ngozi Onwumere.

Ogunlewe, who has emerged as one of the country’s best makes his debut at All-Africa Games.

During the National Trials, Ogunlewe, who didn’t reach the IAAF 10.16secs qualifying mark for the World Championships, recorded a personal best time of 10.19secs to beat Egwero and Metu, who are former national champions.

Interestingly, the All-Africa Games will serve as a platform for top stars to begin preparation for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, in Brazil, next year.

Okagbare remains one of the best in the World and should rise up to the occasion in Brazzaville to lead Nigeria’s quest for medals.

The 2015 Games are returning to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, the venue of the first edition, as part of the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Over 15 000 athletes will compete in 22 disciplines, including football, basketball, track and field, cycling and pétanque.

SuperSport will showcase the disciplines of athletics, basketball, boxing, football, handball and swimming.

In addition to SuperSport 9, some live action will also be broadcast on SuperSport Select.