10 July 2007
Lagos — Nigeria will be under pressure to repeat its 2003 feat in Abuja as the games as the All Africa Games begin today at the July 5th Stadium in Algiers.
Nigerian athletes were denied the opportunity of good preparations when they failed to go on a training tour due to lack of funds, but there is so much enthusiasm being expressed by officials that the country will retain the number one position.
The country will maintain its tradition of winning in stronghold sports like athletics, boxing, wrestling and weightlifting.
During the 2003 Games Nigeria relied on special sports to swing victory at the medals table to its favour. But the hosts have cancelled most of the events in special sports leaving Nigeria walking on a tightrope.
In athletics where over 45 medals are available for grabs, Nigeria has the men and women with potentials to sweep the sprints stakes.
Apart from the men's 400m where the country has been lagging, there is no contesting the fact that the short distance barring any circumstances and upsets, Nigeria will make in a 1,2,3 in men and women event. Based on current form book the relays are exclusive preservers of the country's athletes.
In the field events South Africa and Nigeria will slug it out, even though South Africa has the edge.
In wrestling Nigeria will be the country to count the gold mostly especially in the men and women freestyle in this event where there are 21 medals at stake.
Nigerian women weightlifters are on top of their game and they are most likely to clean the medals table.
In the team sports the Nigerian female soccer team are leading contenders, even though they were rattled recently in Algiers, by Algerian girls the Falcons have shaken off that blight are ready to clinch the gold.
The Female Basketball team will also dunk their way to gold in the event, they are the defending champions
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