African Championships: Athletes depart Asaba after big show

Athletes and officials of countries that participated in the just concluded 21st African Senior Athletics Championship have already started departing Asaba for their various destinations.

As promised by the Local Organising Committee for CAA Asaba 2018, airplanes were made available for the traveling contingents who all expressed delight at Nigerian hospitability.

In a statement issued by Olukayode Thomas, Head Media and Publicity for CAA Asaba 2018, the LOC boss, Solomon Ogba thanked all the athletes and officials from all the participating countries for making the 2018 African Championships a memorable one.

Mr Ogba said despite the initial setbacks which were promptly addressed, Asaba 2018 remains one of the most glamorous African Championships ever hosted on the continent.

“We are very grateful to the Delta State governor; first for making available these planes to airlift the athletes and their officials back to Lagos as they fly back to their various countries.

“Beyond that, we are also very grateful to Gov. Okowa for making Asaba 2018 a reality and bringing Africa to Delta State. We are sure that the legacies from this championship will be long lasting,” Ogba said.

On their part, some of the departing athletes and their officials commended the Asaba 2018 LOC.

Members of Team Kenya, who emerged as the overall champions after five days of competition at the newly-completed Stephen Keshi Stadium said they would always have fond memories of Asaba.

Despite not finishing tops, members of Team South Africa, South Sudan, Eretria and others said they were happy to be in Delta State.

The Confederation of African Athletics, (CAA) have already announced Algeria as the next host of the championships.