The first group of Team Nigeria athletes headed to Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games departed the nation.

While one party departed via the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja, the other group did so via the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

The delegation that left through Abuja was greeted by the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, and the Chef de Mission to the Games, Dr. Simon Ebhojiaye.

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The Minister urged the athletes to maintain their focus and composure while also being mindful of the goals and hopes of over 200 million Nigerians.

The Minister also emphasized the necessity for athletes to be honest and clean as well as the zero tolerance stance against doping.

Nigeria will be represented by 94 athletes and 21 officials in nine sports at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which get underway next week in Birmingham, United Kingdom.