Lagos — Nigeria's quarter mile duo of Godday James and Saul Weigopwa will be among Africa top track & field stars competing for honours at the IAAF World Athletics Tour in Dakar this weekend. Godday in 2006 rekindled hopes that the good old days were here again by running a 44.99secs, the first sub 45secs by any Nigerian runner in a very long while. But shortly after faded out leaving no particular runner to look forward to bring back the memories of Innocent Egbunike and Sunday Bada.

However at last year's Abuja CAA Permit Meet, Godday woke up to the reality of the situation. He ran a blistering 44.90 secs to signal his return to claim the top spot in the quarter mile. Saul Weigopwa, who has equally showed signs waiting in the wings for any of joining the big league, is also on the Dakar trip, hoping to earn valuable points to qualify for the IAAF World Athletics Final slated for Greece in September.

Although All Africa Games double sprint champion Damola Osayomi could not be reached for confirmation, sources close to the United States of America based runner is also expected to join the tough field for honours. There is no word from Olusoji Fasuba on this meet.

But Godday and Weigopwa will not find the road to the quartermile title an easy one as Zimbabwe's Talkmore Nyongani is out to maintain his 400m winning streak

"This is one of my favourite competitions," says Nyongani. "The weather is usually nice and warm. Above all the supportive and friendly atmosphere created by the fans that throng the Iba Mar Diop Stadium contributes to making this meet most enjoyable."

Apart from Godday, the Zimbabwean will b e looking over his shoulders for Sudan's All Africa Games champion Ali Nagmeldin Abubakar.

"The pressure motivates me to step up my game. Victory will place me in good stead for invitations to other Grand Prix meets where I can earn points towards qualifying for the World Athletics Finals in September," Nyongani explains.

Botswana's All Africa Games 400m champion Amantle Montsho, also the winner here last year, is the best bet for victory among athletes from the IAAF High Performance Training Centre in Dakar. The Malian pair of Ibrahima Maiga (400m Hurdles) and Kadiatou Camara (100 and 200m) are expected to make an impressive start to their season.

The Dakar meet is the only stop on the 25-meeting World Athletics Tour that takes place in Africa. It accords Africa's finest athletes the opportunity to earn valuable points towards qualifying for the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final scheduled for Thessaloniki, Greece on 12-13 September.