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Tag: CAA

Nigeria leads in CAA Regional meet
By Mike Oboh, Zaria
Nigeria takes the lead in the race for the medal hauls at the ongoing Confederation of African Athletics Region II championship on Saturday with three gold medals in her kits.
Though Ghana picked the first male and female gold medals of the mini marathon race in the early hours of the day, Nigeria through the efforts of Salisu Habibu and Veriola Umar in the 800 metres race for men and women canceled out their lead as the country took the first spots in the two categories.
Prosper Ekporere superlative performance in the 110 metres men hurdles event with a time of 14.26seconds, to pick the third gold medals for Nigeria to take the lead in the race for the top spot on the log.
In the marathon race for men, William Amponsah with a time of 1.05.09seconds took the first spot to pick the gold medal; Nigeria’s  Adamu Shehu Muazu picked the silver with 1.5.42seconds and Abdoulayer Soolex won the bronze medal. In the female race, Sakut Julians Lariba from Ghana got the gold medal with a time of 1.12.40seconds, Vero Yohana of Nigria picked the silver with a time of 1.22.01seconds and the bronze medal went to Offor Mary Moses of Nigeria who ran 1.27.37seconds.
Other winners included Nigeria’s Seun Ibrahim who ran 2.05.29seconds and   Liberia’s Jonathan Osmah timing of 2.05.31 seconds to pick the silver and bronze medals in the 800metres event.
In the women 800metres event, Chamsiya Yahaya of Nigeria got the silver with the time of 2.34.16 seconds and the bronze went to Niger Republic Mariama Ibrahim with a time of 2.34.13seconds.
In the 110 metres hurdle won by Prosper, Benin Republic’s Lore  Yacuoba with a time of 15.04seconds and Senegal’s Samir Junior Dieldhoury with a 15.28seconds won the silver and bronze respectively.
Speaking on the marathon race, former Nigeria champions in the marathon events in Nigeria, Lt Col Abbas Mohammed and Yohana Waziri in separate interviews blame the country lost of the top spots in the race to lack of experience by the Nigerian athletes who had the chance to sweep the stakes in the events.
Mohammed was of the view that the athletes would have won if they had put their acts together during the race, saying lack of focus was their greatest undoing.
On his part, Waziri said though much needed to be done to place the country in the forefront of the event at the continental level, the athletes must be ready to learn fast.
They both agreed that the championship was a plus for the athletics in the country and expressed  the hope the benefits associated with the development will be used to enhance the game in the country.
May 30, 2021
Emir Of Zazzau Flags Off CAA Region II Championship In Zaria
By Mike Oboh, Zaria
The Emir of Zauzzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli has commended the Athletics Federation of Nigeria AFN for bringing the Confederation of African Athletics Region II Championship to Zaria, Kaduna state
The Sarkin Zauzzau made this known when he flagged off the 21km half marathon race to herald the two -day regional event which began on Saturday at the Ahmadu Bello Sports Complex.
The Emir thanked the AFN President Engr Ibrahim Shehu Gusau for his contributions to sports development in the country especially in Zaria, where the youths are taking to sports as a means of livelihood and recreation.
“I believe that this competition in Zaria is the beginning of more events to come to this city. This will attract more sports tourism to Zaria if it becomes a consistent thing in Zaria”
In his response, the AFN President Ibrahim Gusau described Zaria as an ancient city with Ahmadu Bello University participating actively in sports in the early seventies and eighties before fizzling out.
“One of the ways of bringing back sports in the city, the University and the Region is by bringing these events to the area. It is a three-in-one Athletics fiesta in Zaria because we just concluded the National Selections here on Thursday as well as the CAA Region ll which is ongoing and the Grand Prix which will be held on Monday.
The Emir flagged off the marathon which is symbolic to the community and people of Kaduna. This is a high point of this championship as he prayed for the greatness of Zaria and for more youths in the community to embrace sports, not only to become professional athletes but also for health reasons.
10 countries namely Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea Bissau, Benin Republic, and Niger are currently participating in the two-day Confederation of African Athletics Region II Championship.
May 29, 2021
Kaduna to host West Africa Regional athletics championship May 29-30
By Mike Oboh
10 countries have so far declared their interest to participate in the Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) Region ii championship billed to hold in Kaduna State from May 29-30.
The Region ii President, who is also the President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Gusua made the declaration in Ghana.
Gusua said the event which is anticipating the participation of the 15 countries in the West Africa region, will also serve as a qualification for the summer Olympic Games in July and August this year.
The president who assured the participating countries of maximum security and protection, said despite the challenges in Nigeria, the championship will take place at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, saying, he has taken the challenge as learning and rebuilding democratic practice within Nigeria athletes’ family and the end AFN and Nigeria will be the winners.
Gusau noted that the challenges will not affect the finals which was earlier billed to hold in 2020 but shifted to this year because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
The Region ii, expressed its appreciation to the Engineer Gusua led executive of the AFN and Nigeria for the efforts put in place to ensure the championship is held in Nigeria.
May 17, 2021