As the rest of Africa wakes up to
the medal potentialities in special sports, Nigeria, which first
realized this area, is beginning to face the reality that its
rivals are increasing advantage by the day.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the Ninth All
Africa Games in Algiers, apart from the obstacles Nigeria faces
the host, which placed a seal on the number of athletes that would
be brought to the Algerian capital, many countries have taken care
of their physically challenged.
The equipment they have provided for their athletes in some of
the events is far superior than those by Nigeria.
And because these other countries have adequate provision of
medication, their athletes' physical condition appear to be better
off than that of Nigerian peers.
Nigeria's cerebral palsy (CP) athletes move with considerable
difficulty while those from other countries, especially Algeria,
South Africa and Angola, do not find movement difficult and one
needed to get closer to them to know that they have a medical
condition.
However, that has not deterred Nigeria from having its national
anthem played three times for the gold medals its athletes have
won on the first day of the competition.
Deborah Obolo, winner of the women's long jump, returned to
take the women's 400 meter silver. In the men's T46 100 meters, it
was double for Nigeria as Ayuba Abdullahi and Joseph
Godwin-Mbakara won first and second positions respectively.
Nigeria has already lodged protest over the third position won
by Yunusa Bashiru but awarded to South Africa's Henry Roos.
Spectators who watched the race saw Bashiru finish third but
were shocked when the runner was placed fourth.
Bashiru went on to clinch the gold in the men's T46 400 race.
The athlete, like most of his compatriots, had to increase the
number of his events when Algeria insisted that the SSFN should
only bring 50 instead of 76 athletes as was initially agreed.