Former National Judo Champion, Suleman Musa (OLY) told www.aclsports.com that only three Nigerians have won gold medals for the country since the commencement of the All Africa Games.
The Head coach of Kogi Judo Association said if the Nigeria Judo Federation intends winning medals at the 2019 All Africa Games, they must make easy preparations a priority.
Musa further said it is possible for Nigeria to break the gold medal jinx after 16 years after.
He said, “Majemite Omagbaluwaje is the first Nigeria Judoka to win gold at the 1991 All Africa Games in Egypt. Four years later, I was fortunate to win Nigeria’s second gold at the 1995 All Africa Games in Zimbabwe before Omagbaluwaje won his second gold medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in South Africa.
“The current female head coach, Kate Ekuta at the 2003 All Africa Games held in Abuja, Nigeria became the first female Judoka to win a gold medal”.
He said, “The 2019 All Africa Games is around the corner, I urge Nigeria Judokas to prepare hard as if their lives depend on it. Nigeria won two bronze medals from France Audu and Fatima Bashir at the 2015 All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo. I strongly believe they can surpass that record”.
The Olympian urged the Nigeria Judo Federation to make adequate planning ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He said, “It is possible for Nigeria judokas to appear at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics if they can make adequate planning”.
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