President of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Tayo Popoola is optimistic that Team Nigeria will have podium finish at the African Taekwondo Championship in Bamako’s, Mali.
Nigeria is being represented at the championship by 11 Taekwondo athletes and two coaches, made up of Poomsae, Kyorugi and Para players.
The team list includes, Salawudeen Abdulafeez, ( U-30, Kyorugi/Poomsae, Haruna Usman U-40 ( Poomsae ), Aderibigbe Faridah ( -53kg ) pair Poomsae -freestyle, Fasal Hamidu ( -53kg ) and Abeeblahi Oladimeji (+54kg).
Other are, Chidinma Okoko ( -62 Kg ), Abogun Modinat ( -46kg ), Jordan Joel (+87kg, ), Ability Mathew Udo- Para (-57kg ) , Faster Bakare- Para (-70kg), Samson Ukpera Para ( 80kg while the two coaches, John Victor and Samson Akhilele complete the list.
Popoola explained that the team which was carefully selected from the recently concluded National championship in Abeokuta, Ogu State capital, are among the very best the country can offer presently.
It would be recalled that the Bamako Taekwondo contingent is the largest Team Nigeria has ever taken to any international championship in recent time. It is usually two, three or four players in the past.
