Nigeria's cycling team wants to conquer West Africa

The assistant captain of Nigeria's team participating in the 1st Edition of ECOWAS International Cycling tour, Kalizibe Caleb, has revealed that he and his team mates will ensure that they do the country proud by emerging tops in the event.

The tour, organised by the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and holds from November 19 to 23, was flagged off at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Thursday morning.

Long road ahead

Speaking to NEXTSports at the National Stadium just before the contestants took off, Caleb said: "We believe we can make Nigeria proud though it's not going to be easy because the tour will last for four days, but we've been training for it. I know that the first 50km is going to be dangerous because of potholes so we are praying that our tyres won't be punctured.

"I've participated at the All African Games so this is not new to me; we are just hoping that everything goes fine. Also, the prize money is quite much when converted to naira so it's a motivating factor."

The national coach of the team, Mohammed Bashir, also disclosed that this will be the best time for his wards to show their West African counterparts the stuff they are made of: "We have been training for this for six weeks so it's now time to put into practice what they have learnt. Concerning the dangers on the way, I have been telling them to make sure they are always in front and not at the rear because it is only when you are leading that you can see the potholes and be able to dodge them. When you're at the back you can't escape these things."

Other participants

Other countries that are participating in the event are Liberia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Cote d' Ivoire, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana.

After the Lagos leg of the route, the next stop will be Cotonou, Benin Republic, from where the train will move on to Lome, Togo, before moving to Ghana for the final leg.