Team Nigeria’s chances of retaining their second spot at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana, were boosted with the addition of two gold, two silver and three bronze medals secured before the close of competition Thursday.
Nigeria’s queen of the tracks, Ese Brume, opened the way as she successfully defended her gold medal with an impressive leap of 6.92m to finish first in the long jump event.
Brume who won her first gold medal in the event at the last edition of the games in Rabat, Morocco led the way as her compatriot Ochonogor Prestina Oluchi settled for bronze as her jump of 6.67 wasn’t enough to dislodge Burkina Faso’s Koala Marthe Jasmine who had leaped to 6.81 to finish second.
It was almost a clean sweep for Team Nigeria in the women’s Discuss throw as Amechi Obiageri and Onyekwere Chioma won gold and silver respectively.
- Alleged N3bn fraud: EFCC rearraigns ex-Benue gov, Suswam
- Many feared dead as bandits invade Niger market
While Obiageri recorded a throw of 58.93m, Onyekwere covered 58.03m to push Nora Atim Monie of Cameroon to third with her throw of 56.11m.
Team Nigeria won their third bronze medal of the night in Team Kyorugi taekwondo just as tennis also brought in the fourth bronze medal in women’s doubles.
Against all odds, Francis Petersen Kemi, clinched silver in women’s heptathlon as Benin Republic’s Ahouanwanou Odile picked the gold while Mafogang Tenkeu Adele of Cameroon settled for bronze.
At the time of press yesterday, the women’s football gold medal match between the hosts Ghana and the Falconets of Nigeria was ongoing, yet Team Nigeria’s medals had increased to 37 gold, 25 silver and three bronze medals for a total of 97.
