Nigeria wins four-nation athletics championships

Nigeria won 24 gold, 19 silver and 13 bronze medals to emerge winners of the two-day four-nation athletic competition held at the Kumasi sports stadium on Saturday.

It was held under the auspices of Africa Region Two Zone Three Athletic Confederation.

Ghana was second with nine gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze medals while Cote d'Ivoire had one gold, two silver and four bronze to place third.

Senegal, the fourth nation failed to turn up for the championships which was aimed at raising teams by the countries to participate in the West Africa Senior Athletic championships to be held in Nigeria next month.

It was also used to prepare the athletes for the World Athletic championship slated for Edmonton, Canada in August this year.

Nigeria had 11 gold eight silver and seven bronze in the men's division while Ghana had six gold, eight silver and nine bronze. Cote d'Ivoire had one silver and one bronze.

In the women's division, Nigeria bagged 13 gold, 11 silver and six bronze. Ghana won three gold, five silver and eight bronze while Cote d'Ivoire had one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

In his closing address, Brigadier George Brock, acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC), commended the participants, officials and the spectators for creating a friendly but competitive atmosphere.

He also congratulated those who excelled and qualified to represent their respective countries in future competitions and called on those who failed to make a mark to step up their training programmes.