ABEOKUTA – About 90 junior athletes have been invited to camp by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), for the forthcoming 2025 CAA U18/U20 African Championships billed for Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The event will run from July 16 to 20, 2025.
The three-week camping exercise will see coaches put the athletes through fitness regimes that will bring them near peak performance during the competition.
The AFN is aiming to top the medals table.
Speaking on the development, AFN Technical Director, Gabriel Okon said the coaches will concentrate on areas Nigerian athletes are likely to do well and win, saying that the primary goal of the federation is to give the young athletes the exposure they need.
“We are going to have about three weeks of comprehensive training and then evaluate the athletes before making a final selection for the championships,” said Okon.
“Some of the athletes participated at the just concluded National Sports Festival, and so we expect that they would still be in top shape. We will be focusing on areas we know we can do well.
“Within that period, we would train our relay teams to perfect their exchanges. At the end of the camping, we will be ready with a good team.”
Okon, who was recently elected into the AFN board from the south south zone added that AFN’s new board is looking to start on a good note with the CAA U-20 and U-18 being the first competition it would participate in.
“We are the host federation, and so our target is to top the medals table. But it is not a do or die for us.
“These are junior athletes. we want them to get the exposure to prepare themselves for greater things in track and field. We want them to enjoy the sport while also pursuing their education.”
