List of eligibility transfers in athletics
To countries in Africa
Table:
Name of athlete

From nation

To nation

Year

Yasmina Omrani
France
Algeria

Fabienne Feraez
France
Benin
2003

Lætitia Bambara
France
Burkina Faso

Fred Salle
Great Britain
Cameroon
1986

Sylvie Mballa Éloundou
France
Cameroon
2005

Georgina Toth
Hungary
Cameroon

Nusrat Ceesay
Great Britain
Gambia
2011

Mensah Elliot
Great Britain
Gambia
2011

Tim Abeyie
Great Britain
Ghana
2011

Sean Safo-Antwi
Great Britain
Ghana
2016

Fatmata Fofanah
United States
Guinea
2006

Gabriela Kouassi
France
Ivory Coast

Rosvitha Okou
France
Ivory Coast
2012

Leonard Mucheru Maina
Bahrain
Kenya
2007

Sultan Tucker
United States
Liberia

Kia Davis
United States
Liberia
2008

Brahim Lahlafi
France
Morocco
2007

Tosin Oke
Great Britain
Nigeria
2009

Monzavous Edwards
United States
Nigeria
2014

Mark Jelks
United States
Nigeria
2014

Drawing on the table together with the supplementary paragraphs below.

Respond to the question below: Which athlete is a Beninese sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres and from a nation bordered by Belgium , Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast , Switzerland and Italy to the east , and Andorra and Spain to the south ? Return your answer as JSON: {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

Yasmina Omrani ( Arabic : ياسمينة عمراني ; born 1 January 1988 ) is a retired French-born Algerian track and field athlete who specialised in the heptathlon . Her personal best for the event is 5979 points ( set in 2010 ) and she also has an indoor pentathlon best of 4386 points . She began competing for Algeria in 2012 and won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2012 African Championships in Athletics . In her second year of competition she won gold medals at the Arab Athletics Championships and the Mediterranean Games .
France ( French : [ fʁɑ̃s ] ( listen ) ) , officially the French Republic ( French : République française , pronounced [ ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛːz ] ( listen ) ) , is a country whose territory consists of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories . [ XIII ] The metropolitan area of France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea , and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean . It is bordered by Belgium , Luxembourg and Germany to the northeast , Switzerland and Italy to the east , and Andorra and Spain to the south . The overseas territories include French Guiana in South America and several islands in the Atlantic , Pacific and Indian oceans . The country 's 18 integral regions ( five of which are situated overseas ) span a combined area of 643,801 square kilometres ( 248,573 sq mi ) and a total population of 67.02 million ( as of July 2019 [ update ] ) . France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris , the country 's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre . Other major urban areas include Lyon , Marseille , Toulouse , Bordeaux , Lille and Nice . France , including its overseas territories , has the most number of time zones of any country , with a total of 12 . During the Iron Age , what is now metropolitan France was inhabited by the Gauls , a Celtic people . Rome annexed the area in 51 BC , holding it until the arrival of Germanic Franks in 476 , who formed the Kingdom of Francia . The Treaty of Verdun of 843 partitioned Francia into East Francia , Middle Francia and West Francia . West Francia , which became the Kingdom of France in 987 , emerged as a major European power in the Late Middle Ages , following its victory in the Hundred Years ' War ( 1337-1453 ) .
Algeria ( /ælˈdʒɪəriə/ ( listen ) al-JEER-ee-ə ) is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa . The capital and most populous city is Algiers , located in the far north of the country on the Mediterranean coast . With an area of 2,381,741 square kilometres ( 919,595 sq mi ) , Algeria is the tenth-largest country in the world , and the largest in the African Union and Arab World . With an estimated population of over 42 million , it is among the ten most populous states in Africa . Algeria is bordered to the northeast by Tunisia , to the east by Libya , to the west by Morocco , to the southwest by the Western Saharan territory , Mauritania , and Mali , to the southeast by Niger , and to the north by the Mediterranean Sea . It is a semi-presidential republic consisting of 48 provinces and 1,541 communes ( counties ) . Pre-1962 Algeria has known many empires and dynasties , including ancient Numidians , Phoenicians , Carthaginians , Romans , Vandals , Byzantines , Umayyads , Abbasids , Idrisid , Aghlabid , Rustamid , Fatimids , Zirid , Hammadids , Almoravids , Almohads , Zayyanids , Spaniards , Ottomans and , finally , the French colonial empire . Algeria is a regional and middle power . It has the highest human development index of all non-island African countries and one of the largest economies on the continent , based largely on energy exports . Algeria has the 16th largest oil reserves in the world and the second largest in Africa , while it has the ninth largest reserves of natural gas . Sonatrach , the national oil company , is the largest company in Africa , supplying large amounts of natural gas to Europe . Algeria has one of the largest militaries in Africa and the largest defence budget .
Fabienne Feraez ( born 6 August 1976 in Mont-de-Marsan ) is a Beninese sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres . She switched nationality from her native France on August 12 , 2003 .
Benin ( /bɛˈniːn/ ( listen ) ben-EEN , /bɪˈniːn/ bin-EEN ; French : Bénin [ benɛ̃ ] ) , officially the Republic of Benin ( French : République du Bénin ) and formerly Dahomey , is a country in West Africa . It is bordered by Togo to the west , Nigeria to the east , Burkina Faso to the north-west , and Niger to the north-east . The majority of its population lives on the small southern coastline of the Bight of Benin , part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean . The capital of Benin is Porto-Novo , but the seat of government is in Cotonou , the country 's largest city and economic capital . Benin covers an area of 114,763 square kilometres ( 44,310 sq mi ) and its population in 2018 was estimated to be approximately 11.49 million . Benin is a tropical nation , highly dependent on agriculture , and is a large exporter of cotton and palm oil . Substantial employment and income arise from subsistence farming . The official language of Benin is French , with several indigenous languages such as Fon , Bariba , Yoruba and Dendi also being commonly spoken . The largest religious group in Benin is Roman Catholicism , followed closely by Islam , Vodun ( commonly referred to as Voodoo outside the country ) and Protestantism . Benin is a member of the United Nations , the African Union , the Economic Community of West African States , the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation , the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone , La Francophonie , the Community of Sahel-Saharan States , the African Petroleum Producers Association and the Niger Basin Authority . Little is known of Benin 's early history . From the 17th to the 19th century , the main political entities in the area were the Kingdom of Dahomey , along with the city-state of Porto-Novo , and a large area with many different nations to the north .
Laetitia Kimalou Bambara ( born 30 March 1984 in Bordeaux , France ) is a French-born hammer thrower representing Burkina Faso . She won several medals on continental medal in addition to finishing fourth at the 2007 Summer Universiade . Her personal best in the event is 68.59 metres ( Sotteville-lès-Rouen , June 2016 ) is the current Burkinabé record and all time 2nd best in Africa .
Burkina Faso ( UK : /bɜːrˌkiːnə ˈfæsoʊ/ , US : /- ˈfɑːsoʊ/ ( listen ) ; French : [ buʁkina faso ] ) , officially the Republic of Burkina Faso ( Mossi : Repibilik báága Burkĩna Faso ) , is a landlocked country in West Africa . It covers an area of around 274,200 square kilometres ( 105,900 sq mi ) and is surrounded by six countries : Mali to the north ; Niger to the east ; Benin to the southeast ; Togo to the southeast ; Ghana to the south ; and Ivory Coast to the southwest . The July 2019 population estimate by the United Nations was 20,321,378 . The countrys official language of government and business is French . Roughly 50% of the population speaks the Mossi language natively . Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta ( 1958-1984 ) , the country was renamed Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984 by then-President Thomas Sankara . Its citizens are known as Burkinabé ( /bɜːrˈkiːnəbeɪ/ bur-KEE-nə-bay ) . Its capital is Ouagadougou . The Republic of Upper Volta was established on 11 December 1958 as a self-governing colony within the French Community , and on 5 August 1960 it gained full independence , with Maurice Yaméogo as President . After protests by students and labour union members , Yaméogo was deposed in the 1966 coup d'état , led by Sangoulé Lamizana , who became President . His rule coincided with the Sahel drought and famine , and facing problems from the country 's traditionally powerful trade unions he was deposed in the 1980 coup d'état , led by Saye Zerbo . Encountering resistance from trade unions again , Zerbo 's government was overthrown in the 1982 coup d'état , led by Jean-Baptiste Ouédraogo .
Frédéric Ebong-Salle , better known as Fred Salle ( born 10 September 1964 ) is a male retired athlete who specialized in the long jump .
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland , commonly known as the United Kingdom ( UK or U.K. ) or Britain , [ note 11 ] is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland . Existing under its current name since 1921 , the United Kingdom includes the island of Great Britain , the north­eastern part of the island of Ireland , and many smaller islands . Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland . Otherwise , the United Kingdom is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean , with the North Sea to the east , the English Channel to the south and the Celtic Sea to the southwest , giving it the 12th-longest coastline in the world . The Irish Sea separates Great Britain and Ireland . The total area of the United Kingdom is 94,000 square miles ( 240,000 km2 ) . The United Kingdom is a unitary parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy . [ note 12 ] The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II , who has reigned since 1952 , making her the world 's longest-serving current head of state . The United Kingdom 's capital and largest city is London , a global city and financial centre with an urban area population of 10.3 million . Other major cities include Birmingham , Manchester , Glasgow , Leeds and Liverpool . The United Kingdom consists of four constituent countries : England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland . Their capitals are London , Edinburgh , Cardiff , and Belfast , respectively .
Cameroon ( /ˌkæməˈruːn/ ( listen ) ; French : Cameroun ) , officially the Republic of Cameroon ( French : République du Cameroun ) , is a country in Central Africa . It is bordered by Nigeria to the west and north ; Chad to the northeast ; the Central African Republic to the east ; and Equatorial Guinea , Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south . Cameroon 's coastline lies on the Bight of Biafra , part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean . Although Cameroon is not an ECOWAS member state , it is geographically and historically in West Africa with the Southern Cameroons which now form her Northwest and Southwest Regions having a strong West African history . The country is sometimes identified as West African and other times as Central African due to its strategic position at the crossroads between West and Central Africa . Cameroon is home to over 250 native languages spoken by nearly 20 million people . The official languages of the country are English and French . Early inhabitants of the territory included the Sao civilisation around Lake Chad and the Baka hunter-gatherers in the southeastern rainforest . Portuguese explorers reached the coast in the 15th century and named the area Rio dos Camarões ( Shrimp River ) , which became Cameroon in English . Fulani soldiers founded the Adamawa Emirate in the north in the 19th century , and various ethnic groups of the west and northwest established powerful chiefdoms and fondoms . Cameroon became a German colony in 1884 known as Kamerun . After World War I , the territory was divided between France and the United Kingdom as League of Nations mandates .
Sylvie Florence Mballa Éloundou ( born 21 April 1977 ) is a French-Cameroonian sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres . A native of Yaoundé , the capital of Cameroon , Sylvie Mballa Éloundou originally represented the country of her birth , but changed nationality on 10 October 2002 in order to compete as a member of the French team . Following another change , on 1 April 2005 , she once again entered competition under the flag of Cameroon . Her personal best time for 100 metres is 11.13 seconds , achieved in July 2005 in Angers , however , at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow , she finished the 60 metres race in eighth place .
Georgina Toth ( born March 10 , 1982 ) is a Hungarian/Cameroonian hammer thrower . Toth has dual citizenship in Hungary and Cameroon , and competed for Cameroon at the 2008 Summer Olympics . Toth attended Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff , Arizona , where she competed on the women 's track and field team , and graduated in 2009 with a bachelor 's degree in business administration-finance and marketing . Internationally , she finished fourth at the 16th 2008 African Championships in Athletics . Toth holds the national record for Hungary and Cameroon in the weight throw with 19.69 m ( 64 ft 7 in ) , and the national record for Cameroon in the hammer throw with 67.42 m ( 221 ft 2 1⁄4 in ) .
Hungary ( Hungarian : Magyarország [ ˈmɒɟɒrorsaːɡ ] ( listen ) ) is a country in Central Europe . Spanning 93,030 square kilometres ( 35,920 sq mi ) in the Carpathian Basin , it borders Slovakia to the north , Ukraine to the northeast , Romania to the east and southeast , Serbia to the south , Croatia and Slovenia to the southwest , and Austria to the west . With about 10 million inhabitants , Hungary is a medium-sized member state of the European Union . The official language is Hungarian , which is the most widely spoken Uralic language in the world , and among the few non-Indo-European languages to be widely spoken in Europe . Hungary 's capital and largest city is Budapest ; other major urban areas include Debrecen , Szeged , Miskolc , Pécs and Győr . The territory of modern Hungary was for centuries inhabited by a succession of peoples , including Celts , Romans , Germanic tribes , Huns , West Slavs and the Avars . The foundations of the Hungarian state were established in the late ninth century CE by the Hungarian grand prince Árpád following the conquest of the Carpathian Basin . His great-grandson Stephen I ascended the throne in 1000 , converting his realm to a Christian kingdom . By the 12th century , Hungary became a regional power , reaching its cultural and political height in the 15th century . Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 , Hungary was partially occupied by the Ottoman Empire ( 1541-1699 ) . It came under Habsburg rule at the turn of the 18th century , and later joined Austria to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire , a major European power . The Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed after World War I , and the subsequent Treaty of Trianon established Hungary 's current borders , resulting in the loss of 71% of its territory , 58% of its population , and 32% of ethnic Hungarians .
The Gambia ( /ˈɡæmbiə/ ( listen ) ; Mandinka : Kambiya ; Wolof : Gámbi ) , officially the Republic of The Gambia , is a country in Western Africa that is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal with the exception of its western coastline along the Atlantic Ocean . It is the smallest country within mainland Africa . The Gambia is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River , the nation 's namesake , which flows through the centre of The Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean . It has an area of 10,689 square kilometres ( 4,127 sq mi ) with a population of 1,857,181 as of the April 2013 census . Banjul is the Gambian capital and the largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama . The Gambia shares historical roots with many other West African nations in the slave trade , which was the key factor in the placing and keeping of a colony on the Gambia River , first by the Portuguese , during which era it was known as A Gâmbia . Later , on 25 May 1765 , The Gambia was made a part of the British Empire when the government formally assumed control , establishing the Province of Senegambia . In 1965 , The Gambia gained independence under the leadership of Dawda Jawara , who ruled until Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless 1994 coup . Adama Barrow became The Gambia 's third president in January 2017 , after defeating Jammeh in the December 2016 elections . Jammeh initially accepted the results , then refused to accept them , which triggered a constitutional crisis and military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States , resulting in his exile . The Gambia 's economy is dominated by farming , fishing and , especially , tourism . In 2015 , 48.6% of the population lived in poverty .
Timothy Akwesi Tim Abeyie ( born 7 November 1982 , Westminster , London ) is a former British-born Ghanaian sprinter specialising in the 200 metres , who competes for Ghana . He competed at the 2004 World Indoor Championships , the 2006 World Indoor Championships and the 2006 European Championships without reaching the final . He won a silver medal in the 4x100 metres relay at the 2005 Summer Universiade . His personal best time is 20.57 seconds , achieved in July 2008 at Eton , Berkshire . Formerly representing Great Britain , and Wales at Commonwealth level competitions , since June 2011 , Abeyie has been cleared to represent Ghana . Abeyie recorded a positive response to an in-competition drugs test whilst competing in Kaiserslautern , Germany , on 4 July 2015 . He was handed a four-year ban from competition on 12 December 2016 , which has been retroactively applied . His ban is from 17 July 2015 to 16 July 2019 .
Ghana ( /ˈɡɑːnə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Ghana , is a country located along the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean , in the subregion of West Africa . Spanning a land mass of 238,535 km2 ( 92,099 sq mi ) , Ghana is bordered by the Ivory Coast in the west , Burkina Faso in the north , Togo in the east , and the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean in the south . Ghana means Warrior King in the Soninke language . The first permanent state in the territory of present-day Ghana dates back to the 11th century . Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged over the centuries , of which the most powerful was the Kingdom of Ashanti . Beginning in the 15th century , numerous European powers contested the area for trading rights , with the British ultimately established control of the coast by the late 19th century . Following over a century of native resistance , Ghana 's current borders were established by the 1900s as the British Gold Coast . It became independent of the United Kingdom on 6 March 1957 . Ghana 's population of approximately 30 million spans a variety of ethnic , linguistic and religious groups . According to the 2010 census , 71.2% of the population was Christian , 17.6% was Muslim , and 5.2% practised traditional faiths . Its diverse geography and ecology ranges from coastal savannahs to tropical rain forests . Ghana is a unitary constitutional democracy led by a president who is both head of state and head of the government .
Sean Safo-Antwi ( born 31 January 1990 ) is a Ghanaian sprinter . He competed for Great Britain before switching allegiance to Ghana in early 2016 , a move that was not opposed by the British Federation . He was due to represent Ghana for the first time at the 2016 World Indoor Championships but was withdrawn at the last minute . In 2016 he represented Ghana in the 100 metres at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil .
Fatmata Fofanah ( born 10 June 1985 in Freetown , Sierra Leone ) is a Guinean athlete who specializes in the 100 metres hurdles . Born in Sierra Leone during the Civil War , she grew up in Guinea and the United States . Fatmata was twice an All-American Women 's Track and Field athlete for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets , and in early 2008 , won the 100 Metre Hurdles Gold Medal at the African Championships in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . She was chosen for the 2008 Guinean Olympic squad to run the Women 's 100 m hurdles , was the Flag Bearer for her nation , and was much favoured going into her first qualifying heat . She fell at the first hurdle , and while uninjured , was unable to finish . Her brother , Nabie Foday Fofanah is a sprinter who has also competed in the 2004 and 2008 Guinean Olympic squads . Her personal best time is 12.96 seconds , achieved in June 2007 in Sacramento .
The United States of America ( USA ) , commonly known as the United States ( U.S. or US ) or America , is a country consisting of 50 states , a federal district , five major self-governing territories , and various possessions . [ g ] At 3.8 million square miles ( 9.8 million km2 ) , it is the world 's third or fourth-largest country by total area [ b ] and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe . Most of the country is located in central North America between Canada and Mexico . With an estimated population of over 328 million , the U.S. is the third most populous country in the world . The capital is Washington , D.C. , and the most populous city is New York City . Paleo-Indians migrated from Siberia to the North American mainland at least 12,000 years ago . European colonization began in the 16th century . The United States emerged from the thirteen British colonies established along the East Coast . Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the colonies led to the American Revolutionary War lasting between 1775 and 1783 , leading to independence . The United States embarked on a vigorous expansion across North America throughout the 19th century - gradually acquiring new territories , displacing Native Americans , and admitting new states - until by 1848 it spanned the continent . During the second half of the 19th century , the American Civil War led to the abolition of slavery in the United States . The Spanish-American War and World War I confirmed the country 's status as a global military power .
Guinea ( /ˈɡɪni/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Guinea ( French : République de Guinée ) , is a west-coastal country in West Africa . Formerly known as French Guinea ( French : Guinée française ) , the modern country is sometimes referred to as Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from other countries with Guinea in the name and the eponymous region , such as Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea . Guinea has a population of 12.4 million and an area of 245,857 square kilometres ( 94,926 sq mi ) . The sovereign state of Guinea is a republic with a president who is directly elected by the people ; this position is both head of state and head of government . The unicameral Guinean National Assembly is the legislative body of the country , and its members are also directly elected by the people . The judicial branch is led by the Guinea Supreme Court , the highest and final court of appeal in the country . The country is named after the Guinea region . Guinea is a traditional name for the region of Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea . It stretches north through the forested tropical regions and ends at the Sahel . The English term Guinea comes directly from the Portuguese word Guiné , which emerged in the mid-15th century to refer to the lands inhabited by the Guineus , a generic term for the black African peoples south of the Senegal River , in contrast to the tawny Zenaga Berbers above it , whom they called Azenegues or Moors . Guinea is a predominantly Islamic country , with Muslims representing 85 percent of the population . Guinea 's people belong to twenty-four ethnic groups .
Gabriela Kouassi ( born 18 November 1979 ) is a retired French-Ivorian heptathlete who saw success on continental level . Representing France , she finished 18th at the 1998 World Junior Championships and 17th at the 2001 European U23 Championships . She later changed her allegiance to Ivory Coast . She won the gold medal at the 2009 Jeux de la Francophonie , the silver medal at the 2011 All-Africa Games and another silver medal at the 2012 African Championships . Her personal best score was 5766 points , achieved in April 2012 in Bambous , Mauritius . This is the Ivorian record . She also holds Ivorian records for pentathlon ( indoors ) , shot put indoors and javelin throw .
Ivory Coast , formally Côte d'Ivoire , [ a ] officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire , is a country located on the south coast of West Africa . Ivory Coast 's political capital is Yamoussoukro in the centre of the country , while its economic capital and largest city is the port city of Abidjan . It borders Guinea to the northwest , Liberia to the west , Mali to the northwest , Burkina Faso to the northeast , Ghana to the east , and the Gulf of Guinea ( Atlantic Ocean ) to the south . The official language of the republic is French , with local indigenous languages also being widely used that include Baoulé , Dioula , Dan , Anyin , and Cebaara Senufo . In total , there are around 78 different languages spoken in Ivory Coast . The country has large populations of Muslims , Christians ( primarily Roman Catholics ) and various indigenous religions . Before its colonization by Europeans , Ivory Coast was home to several states , including Gyaaman , the Kong Empire and Baoulé . The area became a protectorate of France in 1843 and was consolidated as a French colony in 1893 amid the European scramble for Africa . It achieved independence in 1960 , led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny , who ruled the country until 1993 . Relatively stable by regional standards , Ivory Coast established close political and economic ties with its West African neighbors while at the same time maintaining close relations to the West , especially France . Ivory Coast experienced a coup d'état in 1999 and two religiously-grounded civil wars , first between 2002 and 2007 and again during 2010-2011 . In 2000 , the country adopted a new constitution .
Bodjiho Rosvitha Okou ( born 5 September 1986 , Gagnoa , Côte d'Ivoire ) is an Ivorian hurdler . At the 2012 Summer Olympics , she competed in the Women 's 100 metres hurdles without reaching the semifinals . In addition , she won a silver medal at the 2014 African Championships . Until 2012 she represented France . Her personal bests are 13.13 seconds in the 100 metres hurdles ( +0.1 m/s , La Roche-sur-Yon 2011 ) and 8.17 seconds in the 60 metres hurdles ( Mondeville 2014 ) . Both are current national records .
Leonard Mucheru Maina ( born 13 June 1978 in Nyandarua ) is a Kenyan long-distance runner , who started from 2004 until 2007 as Mushir Salem Jawher ( Arabic : مشير سالم جوهر ) , having acquired the citizenship of Bahrain .
Bahrain ( /bɑːˈreɪn/ ( listen ) ; Arabic : البحرين al-Baḥrayn Arabic pronunciation : [ al baħrajn ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain ( Arabic : مملكة البحرين Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn ) , is a sovereign state in the Persian Gulf . The island nation comprises a small archipelago centered around Bahrain Island , situated between the Qatar peninsula and the north eastern coast of Saudi Arabia , to which it is connected by the 25-kilometre ( 16 mi ) King Fahd Causeway . According to the most recent 2010 census , Bahrain 's population is over 1.2 million , of which around half are non-nationals . At 780 square kilometres ( 300 sq mi ) in size , it is the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore . The capital and largest city is Manama . Bahrain is the site of the ancient Dilmun civilization . It has been famed since antiquity for its pearl fisheries , which were considered the best in the world into the 19th century . Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to convert to Islam , in 628 AD . Following a period of Arab rule , Bahrain was occupied by the Portuguese in 1521 , who in turn were expelled in 1602 by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty under the Persian Empire . In 1783 , the Bani Utbah clan captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur and it has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family , with Ahmed al Fateh as Bahrain 's first hakim . In the late 1800s , following successive treaties with the British , Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom . In 1971 , it declared independence .
Kenya ( /ˈkɛnjə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Kenya ( Swahili : Jamhuri ya Kenya ) , is a country in Africa with 47 semiautonomous counties governed by elected governors . At 580,367 square kilometres ( 224,081 sq mi ) , Kenya is the world 's 48th largest country by total area . With a population of more than 47.6 million people , Kenya is the 29th most populous country . Kenya 's capital and largest city is Nairobi , while its oldest city and first capital is the coastal city of Mombasa . Kisumu City is the third largest city and also an inland port on Lake Victoria . Other important urban centres include Nakuru and Eldoret . Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest , Ethiopia to the north , Somalia to the east , Uganda to the west , Tanzania to the south , and the Indian Ocean to the southeast . According to archaeological dating of associated artifacts and skeletal material , the Cushites first settled in the lowlands of Kenya between 3,200 and 1,300 BC , a phase referred to as the Lowland Savanna Pastoral Neolithic . Nilotic-speaking pastoralists ( ancestral to Kenya 's Nilotic speakers ) started migrating from present-day southern Sudan into Kenya around 500 BC . European colonisation of Kenya began in the 19th century during the European exploration of the interior . Modern-day Kenya emerged from a protectorate established by the British Empire in 1895 and the subsequent Kenya Colony , which began in 1920 . Numerous disputes between the UK and the colony led to the Mau Mau revolution , which began in 1952 , and the subsequent declaration of independence in 1963 .
Sultan Tucker ( born 24 October 1978 ) is a Liberian athlete , specializing in the 110 metres hurdles . Tucker won a bronze in the 110 metres hurdles at the 2002 African Championships . He also represented Liberia at the World Championships in 2001 and 2005 , the World Indoor Championships in 2003 and 2004 and the 2004 Olympic Games , but without reaching the final round . His personal best time is 13.54 seconds , achieved in May 2004 in Saint-Martin .
Liberia ( /laɪˈbɪəriə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Liberia , is a country on the West African coast . It is bordered by Sierra Leone to its northwest , Guinea to its north , Ivory Coast to its east , and the Atlantic Ocean to its south-southwest . It covers an area of 111,369 square kilometres ( 43,000 sq mi ) and has a population of around 4,900,000 . English is the official language , but over 20 indigenous languages are spoken , representing the numerous ethnic groups who make up more than 95% of the population . The country 's capital and largest city is Monrovia . Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society ( ACS ) , who believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States . The country declared its independence on July 26 , 1847 . The U.S. did not recognize Liberia 's independence until February 5 , 1862 , during the American Civil War . Between January 7 , 1822 , and the American Civil War , more than 15,000 freed and free-born black people who faced legislated limits in the U.S. , and 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans , relocated to the settlement . The settlers carried their culture and tradition with them . The Liberian constitution and flag were modeled after those of the U.S. On January 3 , 1848 , Joseph Jenkins Roberts , a wealthy , free-born African American from Virginia who settled in Liberia , was elected Liberia 's first president after the people proclaimed independence . Liberia was the first African republic to proclaim its independence , and is Africa 's first and oldest modern republic .
Kia Davis ( born May 23 , 1976 in Monrovia ) is a Liberian-American sprinter . She is a multiple-time national record holder in the sprint and hurdles , a three-time USA Track & Field national indoor finalist for the 60 m hurdles , and holds a dual citizenship for Liberia and the United States in order to compete internationally for her categories . She also won the silver medal , as a member of the U.S. team , in the women 's 4 × 400 m relay at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Moscow , Russia . Davis represented her nation Liberia at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing , where she competed in two sprint categories . For her first event , 400 metres , Davis ran in the fifth heat against six other athletes , including American sprinter Sanya Richards , who eventually won the bronze medal in the final . She finished the race only in last place by sixty-three hundredths of a second ( 0.63 ) behind Kazakhstan 's Olga Tereshkova , with a time of 53.99 seconds . Three days later , Davis competed for her second event , 200 metres , where she finished the first heat in sixth place by fifteen hundredths of a second ( 0.15 ) ahead of Suriname 's Kirsten Nieuwendam , outside her personal best time of 24.31 seconds . Davis , however , failed to advance into the next round for all of her participating events . Davis currently resides in Chester , Pennsylvania , and works as an assistant head coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers Track and Field team , focusing on the sprint and hurdles .
Brahim Lahlafi ( Arabic : إبراهيم لحلافي ) ( born 15 April 1968 , in Fes ) is a retired long-distance runner who represented Morocco during his active career . He acquired French citizenship on 6 April 2002 , but represented Morocco again from 15 March 2007 . His greatest achievement was the Olympic bronze medal in 2000 . This was his first medal at a major international event , having barely missed the podium at the 1995 World Cross Country Championships ( 5th place ) and twice in 5000 metres at the World Championships ; 1995 ( 5th ) and 1999 ( fourth ) . He did win a bronze medal in 3000 metres at the 1998 African Championships . He has the fastest 5000m time for a runner from neither Kenya nor Ethiopia ( 12:49.28 ) . In 1996 he was the winner of the inaugural Belgrade Race Through History competition . He beat Paul Tergat to the finish line of the 6 km race and remains the course record holder of the competition .
Morocco ( /məˈrɒkoʊ/ ( listen ) ; Arabic : المغرب , romanized : al-maġhrib , lit . 'place the sun sets ; the west ' ; Standard Moroccan Tamazight : ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ , romanized : lmeɣrib ; French : Maroc ) , officially the Kingdom of Morocco ( Arabic : المملكة المغربية , romanized : al-mamlakah al-maghribiyah , lit . 'The Western Kingdom ' ; Standard Moroccan Tamazight : ⵜⴰⴳⵍⴷⵉⵜ ⵏ ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ , romanized : tageldit n lmaɣrib ; French : Royaume du Maroc ) , is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa . It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west , with land border with Algeria to the east and Western Sahara to the south ( status disputed ) . Morocco also claims the exclaves of Ceuta , Melilla and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera , all of them under Spanish jurisdiction , as well as several small Spanish-controlled islands of its coast . The capital is Rabat and the largest city is Casablanca . Morocco spans an area of 710,850 km2 ( 274,460 sq mi ) and has a population of over 36 million . Since the foundation of the first Moroccan state by Idris I in 788 AD , the country has been ruled by a series of independent dynasties , reaching its zenith under Almoravid and Almohad rule , when it spanned parts of Iberia and northwestern Africa . The Marinid and Saadi dynasties resisted foreign domination into the 17th century , allowing Morocco to remain the only northwest African country to avoid Ottoman occupation . The Alaouite dynasty , which rules to this day , seized power in 1631 . The country 's strategic location near the mouth of the Mediterranean attracted the interest of Europe , and in 1912 , Morocco was divided into French and Spanish protectorates , with an international zone in Tangier . It regained its independence in 1956 , and has since remained comparatively stable and prosperous by regional standards , with the fifth largest economy in Africa .
Tosin Oke ( born 1 October 1980 in London , England ) is a Nigerian track and field athlete , who competes in the triple jump . Born a dual national , he initially competed for Great Britain . He set the current UK junior indoor record and was 1 cm shy of the outdoor junior record . He was the 1999 European Athletics Junior Championships Champion , and came 5th at the 2002 Commonwealth Games . After multiple indoor and outdoor UK titles , he later switched to compete for Nigeria . Since competing for Nigeria he has won back-to-back African Championships in Athletics titles and the Commonwealth Games championship and is the current All-Africa Games Champion . At the 2012 Summer Olympics Oke finished seventh in the triple jump final , the best Nigerian result of the Games .
Nigeria ( /naɪˈdʒɪəriə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria , is a country in West Africa , bordering Niger in the north , Chad in the northeast , Cameroon in the east , and Benin in the west . Its coast in the south is located on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean . The federation comprises 36 states and 1 Federal Capital Territory , where the capital , Abuja , is located . The constitution defines Nigeria as a democratic secular state. , Nigeria has been home to a number of ancient and indigenous kingdoms and states over the millennia . The modern state originated from British colonial rule beginning in the 19th century , and took its present territorial shape with the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914 by Lord Fredrick Lugard . The British set up administrative and legal structures while practicing indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms , Nigeria became a formally independent federation in 1960 . It experienced a civil war from 1967 to 1970 . It thereafter alternated between democratically elected civilian governments and military dictatorships until it achieved a stable democracy in 1999 , with the 2011 presidential election considered the first to be reasonably free and fair . Nigeria is often referred to as the Giant of Africa , owing to its large population and economy . With 206 million inhabitants , Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the seventh most populous country in the world . Nigeria has the third-largest youth population in the world , after India and China , with more than 90 million of its population under the age of eighteen . Nigeria is the world 's 20th largest economy as of 2015 [ update ] , worth more than $ 500 billion and $ 1 trillion in terms of nominal GDP and purchasing power parity , respectively .
Monzavous Rae Edwards ( born May 7 , 1981 ) is an American sprint athlete who specialises in the 100 meters . Edwards began his career as a junior athlete in 2000 , winning the USA Junior and Junior College ( JUCO ) championships in the 100 and 200 meters races . He competed at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Athletics and reached the semifinals of the 100 m and quarterfinals of the 200 m. He reached the final of the USA Outdoor Championships in Track and Field in 2003 , setting a personal record of 10.09 seconds . He competed at the US Olympic trials for the 2004 Athens Olympics , but did not progress beyond the quarterfinals . He received a public warning that year from the United States Anti-Doping Agency after he tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol , a substance which is regarded as a minor infraction . At the 2005 US Outdoor Championships , he posted a personal record tying 10.09 s before finishing sixth in the 100 m final . As a result , he was selected as an alternate for the United States relay team at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics , but he did not compete . At the end of the 2005 season , he ran a new personal best of 10.08 seconds in Malmö , Sweden . The 2006 and 2007 seasons were largely uneventful , although he was part of the bronze-medal winning relay team at the 2007 Pan American Games . Edwards returned in 2008 to compete at the US Olympic trials for the Beijing Games . He finished tenth in the semifinals but recorded a new best of 10.06 seconds in the qualifying rounds . At the start of the following outdoor season , he significantly improved his 200 m best from 20.46 to 20.17 seconds at the Grande Premio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo .
Mark Elliott Jelks ( born April 10 , 1984 ) is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter dash . He has a personal best of 9.99 seconds for the event and represented the United States at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics . In 2014 , Jelks made a change in eligibility in order to represent Nigeria internationally . He represented his new country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games . He also competes in the 60-meter dash and won the national title at the 2009 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a personal record of 6.51 seconds . He received a two-year doping suspension in 2010 after failing to inform the United States Anti-Doping Agency of his location on three occasions .