CAPTAIN of the Nigerian team in the maiden edition of Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) International Cycling Tour, Aphis Bakare is confident that he and his teammates have what it take to shine at the 324 kilometres championship which takes them from Lagos to Benin Republic, then to Togo and ends in Ghana.

Bakare told Champion Sports before the flagging off of the championship yesterday at the National Stadium, Lagos by ECOWAS Sports Commissioner, Vivien Taro that he and his teammates have trained well to face the opposition of Team Burkina Faso, who are favoured to dominate at the tour because of their international exposure.

We've been in camp for six weeks training under, Coach Mohammed Bashri so I think we're ready for this tour. I want to believe that the distance is not much but the fact remains we've a chance first like any other country. With due respect to the Burkina Faso team but they are not a threat he said.

Other members of the Nigerian team include, Caleb Kalisibe, Quadri Ajibade, Geofrey Kadet, Yahaya Abdullahi and Sani Abdul.

Speaking later at the flagging off ceremony, Taro said the tour provides opportunity for member states of the ECOWAS to come together and forge ahead in the area of sports development as well as create good relationship amongst it people.

She promised that the tour will be an annual thing to boost the sport within the region.

Other competing countries were Liberia, Senegal Burkina Faso Niger Republic, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone Ivory Coast, Benin Republic Togo and Ghana. Each country is represented by six cyclists in the tour which rounds up in Accra on November 23, 2009.