Abuja – Bolaji Ojo-Oba, a former Director, Elite Athletes Development at the National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed optimism that Nigeria will excel at the ongoing All-Africa Games (AAG) in Congo Brazzaville.

Ojo-Oba said in Abuja on Monday that Team Nigeria would have no reason not to emerge overall winners at the Games given their level of preparation and the kind of support they were getting from the management of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC).

“We are hopeful because the necessary exposures have been given to the athletes and the coaches have been given the mandate.

“With the support from the management of the NSC and the Director-General is doing his best, I have no doubt that while there, Nigeria will excel.“

Ojo-Oba also said that Team Nigeria was participating in 21 sports it had comparative advantage and as such, must endeavour to win.

The sports are athletics, basketball, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, cycling, football, gymnastics and handball.

Others are judo, karate, table tennis, para-athletics, powerlifting, taekwondo, tennis, rugby, swimming, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.

The former NSC Director urge Team Nigeria to ensure it surpassed the record achieved at the last edition of the Games in Maputo, Mozambique, when the country finished third overall with 98 medals.

Nigeria won 31 gold, 28 silver and 39 bronze medals to place third at the Maputo Games, behind Egypt, which finished in second place with 32 gold, 14 silver, and 20 bronze medals.

South Africa won the Games in 2011 with 61 gold, 55 silver, and 40 bronze medals.

The 2015 Games, which began in Congo Brazzaville on Sept. 4, is expected to end on Sept. 19. (NAN)