Yomi Omogbeja (14/08/2007)

Many African athletes are in Europe right now putting finishing touches to their preparations for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan starting in less than two weeks.

Last Sunday, Nigeria's female sprinters Franca Idoko (seen running below courtesy the meet organisers) and Christy Ekpukpon led all comers home at the DLV Gala 2007 in Wattenscheid, Germany.

Click below to play the women's 100m race at the DLV Gala 2007

Ghana's Vida Anim also shows signs of recovering her form after losing both sprints titles to Nigeria's Damola Osayomi at the All African Games in Algiers last month.

Weeks before that Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele smashes the UK's All Comers Record with 7.26.69 in the men's 3000m at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield.

The South Africa team is balanced with a mixture of experience and youth, sprinter Constance Mkenku is among a crop of promising young talent South Africa is sending to the World Athletics Championships in Osaka Japan.

Uganda, despite missing World defending 3000m Steeplechase champion Dorcus Inzikuru, still has 2004 Athens Olympics Games 10,000m and 2005 Helsinki World Championships 10,000m fourth place finisher Boniface Kiprop in good form.

With the Double World 5000m and one-time World 10000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba Tirunesh Dibaba already selected to double up in both events in Osaka, Africa is set to challenge the rest of the world and to once again dominate the long distance races, though Aussie Craig Mottram might have something to say to that.

So what are their realistic chances of podium finishes in Osaka 2007? How many Gold medals do you think African athletes will win at the World championships? what do you think?

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