…Eyes 2024 Olympic Games Qualification
Nigeria’s Track Cycling team from the just concluded World Championship have returned to the country from France and have been warmly received by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare at his Conference Room inside the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday, October 26, 2021.
Led by the President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Engineer Giandomenico Massari, his Secretary General, Aliyu Shammah Makpa and four women cyclists, Ese Ukpeseraye, Yekeen Tawakalt, Ayuba Grace and Samuel Mary, the team was also received by Senator Obinna Ogba, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development.
The World Championship is the biggest event in Cycling after the Olympics. Nigeria qualified to be a part of it for the first time ever after participating in the Cycling World Cup in Cali, Colombia and performing well at the African Championship.
Nigeria competed against top cycling nations like Russia, USA, Italy, Germany and France at the World Championship.
Engineer Giandomenico Massari, the president of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria said Nigeria are currently the African champions in the female elite category of Team Spring and Team Pursuit and with more of such performances could qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.
He revealed that the Nigerian team started training at the Velodrome complex of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja about three years ago after it was reopened, thanking the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development for the collaboration and support extended to it for the development of the sport in Nigeria.
He also said that Nigeria may be on course to host an African tournament next year.
The Sports Minister, in his remarks, congratulated the Cycling Federation president, his Secretary General and the cyclists for being good ambassadors of Nigeria during the World Championship in France.