By Ben Efe

Athletics Federation of Nigeria coaches here at the All Africa Games have high hopes that the country will surpass the number of medals, Nigerian athletes raked in at the 2011 African Games.

The athletics events begin today at the Kintele Stadium and as the group led by Yusuf Alli loosened up at the warm up racks there was a whiff of expectations, even against the back ground of uncertainty that has become Nigerian track and field.

“Our target is to surpass what we did at the last Games. We know that it wouldn’t be an easy task, but we have our athletes in top shape and ready,” said Alli a former African long jump champion.

Nigeria won 10 gold medals six silver and five bronze in Maputo. But in Brazzaville, the picture is hazy. As other countries notably, Kenya and South Africa have made inroads into Nigeria’s traditional strong hold of the short and middle distance sprints.

The 100m heats begin this morning and a run down of the top list for African men suggests that Ogho Oghene Egwero and Seye Ogunlewe will have to dig deep to beat the South African Anaso Jobodwana who has 10.13, the fastest time in Africa.

In the women Blessing Okagbare and Murielle Ahoure will perhaps put their World Championships nightmare behind and rekindle their rivalry. Okagbare, was still being expected yesterday afternoon.

However, Coach Gabriel Okon waved off the threat posed by South Africa , Ethiopia and Kenya.

“We have done a lot preparations , we went to world championship , so we are considering what we have at hand , and we are going to do much better here in Congo Brazzaville, for track and field , we are going to be best in Africa at this Africa Games.”

Also the Para athletics events are on, and Adekunle Adesoji is confident that Nigeria will sweep the medals table just like they did in 2011.

“We are sure of getting about five gold medals and hopefully do well in events we are not traditionally strong in. Our athletes are ready and are full of confidence,” said the former Paralympics cham-pion in the sprint events.

With six gold, seven silver and eight bronze medals, Nigeria topped the Para-athletics events in Maputo.