The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)
on Monday condoled with the Moroccan
Athletics Federation on the death of its 33
athletes who were killed
in a bus crash on
April 10. The condolence is contained in
an email by Commodore Omatseye
Nesiama, AFN Technical Director and
member, Confederation of African Athletics
(CAA) Technical and Competitions
Commission.
The AFN condolence was addressed to the
President of the Moroccan Athletics
Federation and made available to newsmen
in Lagos. “I am shocked by the sad news
of the fatal accident involving a good
number of your athletes and officials that
resulted in several deaths. “It is a tragedy
not only to your country but to the whole
of Africa.
“I therefore, wish on behalf of the Athletics
family in Nigeria, to offer our deepest
condolences to the Moroccan Athletics
Federation. “It is our prayer that God would
repose their souls,’’ the statement quoted
Nesiama as saying. A bus carrying a
delegation of young Moroccan athletes
collided with a petrol tanker resulting in
the death of the athletes.
No fewer than 9 persons were injured after
the tanker exploded and spread fire.
According to Morocco’s Ministry of Sport,
the fatal accident occurred along the road
between the capital, Rabat and Laayoune.
Moroccan media had said the young
athletes were school students participating
in a national sports competition.
They were said to have gone to the
competition to represent their schools. The
athletes were on their way back when their
bus collided with the petrol tanker.
