Women’s 100m hurdle world record holder, Tobi Amusan, has been named as Nigeria’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics slated for the River Seine on Friday in Paris.
The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in collaboration with the Federal Sport Ministry made the announcement on Tuesday’s morning.
In a statement released by Tony Nezianya, who serve as the press attache to the team, also confirmed the appointment of Anuoluwapo Opeyori of the badminton team as general captain of Team Nigeria’s contingent for Paris Games.
Tobi Amusan, the reigning world record holder in the 100m hurdles, is one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects in Paris.
Earlier this year, Amusan set a world-leading time of 12.40 seconds (with a 0.9m/s wind), highlighting her impressive form heading into the Olympics. She narrowly edged out two-time world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica, who finished second with a time of 12.46 seconds.
Anuoluwapo Opeyori, on the other hand, is an experienced badminton player who has been representing Nigeria since 2017.
The 26-year-old won the African Championships and African Games in the singles event in 2019 and also competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
As the general team captain, Opeyori will play a crucial role in providing leadership and guidance to the Nigerian team contingent in Paris, drawing on his international experience to inspire his teammates to achieve their best results.
The decision to appoint Amusan and Opeyori to these prestigious positions, according to Tony Nezianya, reflects the high expectations the country has for its athletes at the upcoming Olympic Games.
Both individuals have proven their mettle on the global stage and are poised to lead Nigeria’s charge for glory in Paris.