By Victor Kanayo
The contingent of Nigerian athletes and team officials taking part in the 13th edition of the African Games have arrived Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
Heritage Times HT reports that the team touched down Accra airport at exactly 11.30pm (Nigerian time), 10.30pm (Ghanaian time) on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 aboard Air Piece airline, after taking off from Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport Abuja same day, settling early morning on Wednesday.
Part of the team aboard the Airbus flight include Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Wrestling, Judo, Karate, Cycling all with both the male and female counterparts among other sports.
Upon arrival, the various teams were moved to the games village.
Before departure, Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria as they remain focused on returning home victorious.
While assuring them of the Nigerian Government’s support, the Minister was optimistic that the country will emerge tops at the end of the month-long sporting competition.
He said, “Let me remind you that you carry the hopes and aspirations of the entire country. As a government, the current administration will encourage you to excel without any hindrance.”
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The Minister promised to promptly pay all the allowances due to the athletes, stating that no athlete would be short-changed.
An advance team comprising mainly of Badminton and Table Tennis had arrived Ghana as their competition kicked-off earlier, though the opening ceremony is officially scheduled for March 8.
Up to 54 African countries are expected to take part in the games which will feature 29 sports.
The 12th All Africa Games took place in Rabat, Morocco in 2019 and Nigeria came second, after winning 46 gold medals, 33 silver medals and 48 bronze medals.
