Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor’s failure to reach the Women’s 100m final on Sunday and Nigeria’s seeming poor outing at the 2017 IAAF World Championships has led to an urgent call for support by Athletics Coach, Tony Osheku.
Team Nigeria had been beset with several setbacks including when they were denied entry visas to the UK, barely 24 hours before the championships.
At the championship proper, Okagbare finished fourth in Heat 3 of the 100 meters semi-final on Sunday much to the disappointment of Athletics fans back home.
Osheku, who is team Nigeria’s Coach at the championship, felt was let down by the outcome of the race and told brila.net the team had hoped the 28-year-old would go further.
The Coach trained legendary quarter-miler, Falilat Ogunkoya who won two Olympic medals in 1996 and the number one ranking in the women’s 400m in 1998.
In his overall assessment of Team Nigeria’s performance, Osheku said there must now be concerted efforts between the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and its partners to develop athletes, who could relaunch Nigeria in the sport.
Later on Monday, the trio of Patience Okon George, Yinka Ajayi and Margaret Bamgbose will take part in three heats of the Women’s 400 meters semi-final.
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