1st CAC Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe qualifiers for 2024 Paris Olympics Begin in Abuja.
The FCT is set to witness the first ever qualifiers in Nigeria for Canoe events at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The qualifiers tagged 1st Confederation of Africa Canoe Sprint & Para Canoe qualifiers paddle off at the well manicured canoe lanes of Jabi Lake on November 22 with keen contests running till November 25.
At a press conference to herald the event, President Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation Admiral Festus Porbeni flanked by the President, Confederation of Africa Canoe, Joao Manuel Da Costa Alegre Afonso and other ranking board members expressed Nigeria’s readiness to host the rest of Africa. Porbeni, a retired Rear Admiral in Nigerian Navy describes the championship as a improvement of the 1st edition of the Boat Championship which held from July 26-30 in Abuja.
“ At the last championship in Abuja in July, we demonstrated capacity to not only host regional but international events. The endorsements by International Canoe Federation President Thomas Konietzko, Confederation of Africa Canoe Chief, Confederation of African Canoeing President Joao Manuel Da Costa Alegre Afonso signpost pragmatic development by the federation over the years. We are not only hosting Africa, we are going to compete and get more Nigerian Canoeists qualify for the Paris Games”
Porbeni further said “ We have developed Nigeria-made boats for training and championship purposes. However, due to the standards expected by the IOC and ICF, we will be using Nelo(renowned world canoe and boats manufacturer based in Portugal) boats over the next few days. Nelo supported us with over twenty boats which arrived Nigeria two weeks ago, but as I speak to to you, our boats have been grounded by at the Ports. Despite the directives from Finance Ministry through the support of Sports Development Minister and intervention by Comptroller General of Nigeria Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, some unknown individuals out there are making the boats difficult for us to access. We have just met the Sports Development Minister , Senator John Enoh, who had to intervene earlier today (Tuesday) and we have the assurances that the boats will be released today(Tuesday) Now we have the additional cost of having to fly them to Abuja before midday(Wednesday) as the road transport is not realistic due to time factor”
In his own address, CAC President, Joao Manuel Da Costa Alegre Afonso saluted the resilience by the Nigeria Rowing, Canoe and Sailing Federation. Speaking through an interpreter, he believes the challenges which trailed the championship opener can only make Nigeria better. Nigeria is renowned for being the best and that is why the best Canoeists in Africa had no objection in signing up to compete in Nigeria for slots at the Paris Olympic Games. The administrator from São Tomé and Principe who doubles as the Vice President, Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa asserted that all eyes will be on Nigeria and the six major categories where winners are expected to qualify for the Games. Hence, all hands must be on deck for a successful outing.
Nigeria and 15 countries, Algeria, Angola , Djibouti, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, São Tomé, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda will participate in the opening ceremony on Wednesday at Section II of Jabi Lake before canoe and kayak events begin on Thursday.
