The Federal Ministry of Sports has released the list of sports the country will participate in at the 13th African Games scheduled to hold in Ghana, from March 8 to March 23.
The ministry also released names of athletes and sports that have so far qualified for the Olympics billed for Paris, France, from July 26 to Aug. 11.
Amaka Ashiofu, Acting Director, Federation, Elites and Athletes Development (FEAD), announced this in Abuja on Thursday at a meeting with various sports federations.
He said the country would participate in 23 sports.
Ashiofu listed the sports as athletics, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon, and wrestling.
Others are arm wrestling, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, cricket, football, handball, hockey, judo, karatee, rugby, taekwondo, volleyball and weightlifting.
“The African Games are open and as such, we have 23 sports to participate in,” she said. Ashiofu said that Nigeria would also be attending the African Games with three demonstration sports and they are mixed martial arts, scrabble and teqball.
On the preparation for the Olympics in Paris, France, Ashiofu said that the country would participate in 12 sports, and that efforts were being made to ensure a podium finish.
The sports are athletics, boxing, canoeing, wrestling, basketball women, badminton, football women, rowing, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis and weightlifting.
“We have qualified three athletes in athletics and they are Tobi Amusan for Women’s 100m; Ezekiel Nathanial in Men’s 400m and Edose Egbadi participating in Men’s 800m. “So far, these are the three athletes that have qualified in athletics but there are still qualifications going on for the Olympics and we are sure more athletes will qualify.
“We also have three boxers that have qualified. They are Olaitan Olaore in Men’s 92kg category, Dalapo Omole in Men’s 57kg category and a lady, Cynthia Ogunsimilore who will fight in Women’s 60kg category.