Ahead of the 2024 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship in Egypt, four lifters and four officials from Nigeria have departed through the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja for the North African country.

The championship, which will be held from February 6 to 11, would also serve as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.

The lifters jostling for the Paris Games ticket comprised three females and a male.

In the 59kg women’s category, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal and Adijat Adenike Olarinoye would compete with other African stars.

Also, Joy Ogbonne Eze would compete in the 71kg women’s category, and Umoafia Edidiong Joseph would compete in the 73kg men’s category.

The four accompanying officials include three coaches: Janet Ali, Abdulsalam Kayode, and Onubaye Sefiat, as well as Iquaibom Lawrence, a referee.

Rafiatu Lawal, a 2023 gold and silver medalist, and Adijat Olarinoye will compete in the 59kg women’s category, respectively.

Also, Umoafia Edidiong will participate in the 73kg men’s category and women’s Joy Eze in the 71kg category.

The International Weightlifting Federation(IWF) World Cup holds from March 31 to April 11 in Phuket, Thailand.

Nigeria won 12 medals, comprising three gold, seven silver, and two bronze, in the previous edition of the championship held in Tunisia in May 2023.

(NAN)