Nigerian athletics enthusiasts can only hope for a miracle to happen for the country to produce podium performances at the 2016 Rio Olympics starting in August.

Team Nigeria’s showing at the African Athletics Championships, which comes to a close today in Durban South Africa has left much to be desired. It was even worse that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria cannot present athletes to run in the relays. Only the women 4x400m is in contention in the final to be decided today. They are tipped to win the gold.

With Nigerian teams’ inability to perform in the relays, their chances of making the Rio 2016 Games remains gloomy. It is only the women 4x400m that is assured of a place in the Olympics.

In today’s events Divine Oduduru will try to rescue a medal in the 200m, while Doreen Amata will vie for the gold in the women high jump.

As at yesterday Nigeria has four gold medals behind South Africa and Kenya. The table is expected to remain the same at the end of the championships.

“What is happening in Durban is something one can’t really explain. No relay teams ? So why are we there at all? No no no a lot is wrong,”a former vice-president of the AFN lamented yesterday.

Source: Vanguard.