By Tony Ubani, Maputo
Faces of Nigerians have brightened and athletes, officials and journalists have regained their voices and can now walk with their noses in front following a last minute assault on gold medals.

The table has turned and Team Nigeria has shot into the second position, trailing almighty South Africa that are run-away winners even before the end of the Games. But Team Nigeria’s chef de mission, Alhassan Yakmut said that the whole thing was due to a strategic plan from onset.

“It’s wrong for doubting Thomases to assume that we came here for a jamboree. No. Things that are happening here are a well thought-out plan. Things are working according to plan. Our projection before the Games was to be among the first three finishers. Not to win the Games.

By our standard so far, we are going to better Team Nigeria’s outing in Algiers in 2007 where we finished fourth even with sports like Powerlifting, Wrestling and Weightlifting that account for 19 gold medals. We are not partaking in those sports but we are doing well”, he reflected.

He said that Team Nigeria had looked at the strength of their opponents and worked on “our strength for optimal results. We were not rattled at the beginning when South Africa shot into the lead with amazing medals. We are on track and things are working according to our plan”he said.