By Martin Ukarerani

Athletics Namibia is already hard at work in preparing athletes for this year's African Athletics Championships, set to take place in Nigeria .

Nigeria will play host to the 21st edition of the African Athletics Championships from the 1st to the 5th of August this year with Namibia to be one of the participating countries.

Namibia is already hard at work soliciting for funds and prepare the team for the showpiece, according to Athletics Namibia President Erwin Naimwaka .

“As we all know the economy has not been strong and it has affected everyone including Athletics Namibia, we have been struggling to run our affairs as it should be due to budget cuts, but nonetheless we are working hard to try and solicit funds that will enable us to send a team that will represent Namibia in Nigeria, Naimwaka, states.

Naimwaka further disclosed that Namibia also submitted a bid to host the 2022 continental edition.

“ We did submit our bid we still waiting to hear the outcome, but one good thing is that all 14 SADC countries endorsed Namibia's bid which means we stand a good chance of winning the bid, he concludes.

The 2018 Championships are expected to be held at the National Stadium in Lagos, which also played host to the event in 1989.

South Africa played host to the last spectacle in 2016, while Algeria will be hosting the 2020 edition.