Amusan named Nigeria’s flagbearer for opening ceremony of Olympic Games

Tobi Amusan has been named the flagbearer of Team Nigeria for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

In a statement on Tuesday, Tony Nezianya, Nigeria’s Olympic Committee (NOC) spokesperson, also announced that Anuoluwapo Opeyori, Africa’s number one in badminton, will be the captain of Team Nigeria at the Games.

Amusan will be the first track and field athlete named Nigeria’s Olympic flagbearer since Mary Onyali in Athens in 2004.

The 27-year-old, who holds the world record in women’s 100m hurdles, will be one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects in Paris.

An Olympic medal remains the only major laurel missing from her impressive hurdling career after claiming the world championship in 2022, winning multiple Diamond League trophies and Commonwealth Games gold medals.

She hopes to banish the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympics, where she finished fourth in the final race.

Opeyori is also an experienced athlete who has been representing Nigeria since 2017.

The 26-year-old is the reigning champion in the men’s singles event of the African Championships and African Games and competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 2024 Olympics is set to commence on July 26.

Team Nigeria will be represented by 86 athletes participating in 12 sports.