Accra — Nigeria will compete in only three events at the 2012 ECOWAS Games that will begin on Saturday in Accra, Ghana.

The Head of Nigeria delegation to the event, Mr. Elias Gora revealed this while speaking with Daily Trust at the Accra Stadium on Friday afternoon.

He said, unlike in the first edition where Nigeria participated in all events and ran away with the grand prize, the country will only compete in boxing, traditional

wrestling and athletics this time.

"We have withdrawn from only two sports: Volleyball and Handball. Those can only bring us maximum of six medals which is not possible because we can only win either Gold, Silver or Bronze."

"The bulk of the medals won las time, came from athletics, boxing and traditional wrestling. These are the sports that we are featuring in", he stressed.

Why jettisoning two sports

He claimed that it wasn't mandatory for Nigeria to participate in all five sports, noting that Volleyball and Handball were sports that requires high number of players

which was too expensive for the country.

" When you take a large continent of athletes and you come back with a few medals, there's always a public outcry."

"Every efforts should be made to concentrate on those areas where you have strength, where you can maximise success" he added.

73-member contingent

Nigeria has 73-member contingent to the sporting event comprising of 43 athletes while others were officials.

Despite the low number of athletes and few sporting events its participating in, Mr. Gora believes Team Nigeria could still top the medal table.

The traditional sports will take place at the Accra Stadium while the athletics will be at the Elwalk Military stadium in Accra.