NAIROBI, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- World Indoor 800m champion Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi believes she is in top form to successfully defend her title when the competition starts on Thursday in Birmingham.

Niyonsaba, who has been training in Eldoret, is expected to depart from Nairobi on Monday for the Championships, which will run from March 1-4 with 618 athletes from 145 teams taking part.

"I'm really happy to represent Burundi at the World indoor Championships in Birmingham. I am ready for the challenge," she said on Saturday from Eldoret.

Niyonsaba will lead the team of Burundi, which has two other members Antoine Gakeme for men's 800m and Thierry Ndikumwenayo for 3,000m.

In Portland, USA in 2016, Niyonsaba was the only winner for the Burundian team. She hopes to retain the title and recite her country's national anthem again.

However, she must brave a strong challenge from Kenya's Margaret Nyairera, who claimed bronze in Portland.

Nyairera, who has been training with Niyonsaba before, said she is keen to improve her bronze to gold before switching her attention to the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15.

Meanwhile, Ghana selected sprinter Sean Safo-Antwi for 60m, Emanuel Dasor for 400m and female sprinter Flings Owusu-Agyapong.

Moroccan, on their part will send a team of seven runners to the championships led by hurdler Mohamed Koussi, Mostafa Smaili (800m), Abdelaati Iguider with Brahim Kaazouzi (1,500m), Rababe Arafi with Malika Akkaoui (1,500 women) and Youness Essalhi (3,000m).

Four other African countries are also sending one athlete each to World Indoors. Triple jump record holder Hugues Fabrice Zango will be the sole representative from Burkina Faso.

Jean-Yann de Grace in men's 60m will hoist Mauritius flags at the championships while Dylan Sicobo is in for Seychelles and Sibusiso Matsenjwa for Swaziland.