By CHIMEZIE ANASO

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) on Tuesday announced Tobi Amusan’s appointment as Team Nigeria’s flagbearer at Friday’s opening of the Paris Olympic Games and Anuoluwapo Opeyori as General Team Captain.

Tony Nezianya, the NOC Public Relations Officer who will also serve as the team’s Press Attaché, said in a statement this was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports Development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Amusan was the reigning world champion in women’s 100 metres hurdles and one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects in Paris.

Opeyori, on the other hand, is an experienced badminton player who has been representing Nigeria since 2017.

Nezianya said as the General Team Captain, Opeyori would play a crucial role in providing leadership and guidance to the Nigerian team contingent in Paris.

”He is expected to draw from his international experience to inspire his teammates.

“The decision to appoint Amusan and Opeyori to these prestigious positions reflects the high expectations the country has for its athletes at the upcoming Olympic Games,” he said.

Nezianya said both of them had proven their mettle on the global stage and are poised to lead Nigeria’s charge for glory in Paris.

He recalled that Opeyori, 26, won the African Championships and African Games in the singles event in 2019 and also competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“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,” Nezianya said.

NAN reports that the Games will officially open on Friday in “the city of love” Paris. (NAN)

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