In a spirited display of athleticism, Francis James Musa and Patience Dalop secured third place in the male and female categories, respectively, at the 21Km ECOWAS-Abuja International Marathon. Nigerian runners dominated the 5 km race and also won most of the prizes reserved for ECOWAS citizens.
This achievement has sparked renewed optimism within Nigeria’s sports administration, leading Malam Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission, to announce a bold timeline of one year for Nigeria to break the long-standing dominance of East African countries in long-distance races.
During his remarks following the marathon, Dikko expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential to excel in this area. “We are deliberate about our target and are making steady progress towards achieving it,” he stated, highlighting the importance of the marathon not only as a competitive event but also as a celebration of ECOWAS at 60.
The National Sports Commission’s commitment to fostering long-distance running is evident, with Dikko noting the abundance of talent across Nigeria’s diverse regions, particularly in Jos and Taraba, which are ideal for training. He emphasized, “We have the talents, the capacity, and the infrastructure to properly train athletes and prepare them to compete on a global scale.”
Dikko further elaborated on the commission’s serious approach to talent scouting at the marathon, mentioning the presence of 20 to 30 personnel dedicated to medical, technical, and officiating roles. “We are not here for fun; we are here to identify and develop the talents necessary for the future,” he affirmed.
The chairman also reflected on recent successes, pointing to a Nigerian runner who finished 8th in the 10th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon—marking the first time a Nigerian has placed among the top 10.
“With our male and female runners finishing third in both categories at the ECOWAS half marathon, it shows that we are making progress.
By next year, we want Nigerian athletes to be in the top 5 runners,” Dikko concluded, reinforcing the National Sports Commission’s commitment to elevating Nigeria’s status in long-distance running on the international stage.
As Nigeria embarks on this ambitious journey, the sports community remains hopeful that through dedication and strategic development, the country will soon rival the elite runners of East Africa.
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