Athletes lament African championships shift The Punch Nigerian athletes have lamented the postponement of the 2021 African Athletics Championships in Algeria. Africa’s flagship athletics event, which was billed to hold in Oran between June 22 and 26, after it was moved forward from last year, was again postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Announcing the postponement, the Algerian Ministry of Youth and Sports in a statement said the postponement was “due to the health situation, marked by resurgence in the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and the risk of circulation of new variant(s).” Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, men’s 110m hurdler, Oyeniyi Abejoye, described the postponement as disheartening.