Nigeria’s troubled athletics administration has once again come under sharp criticism after a series of embarrassments rocked the country’s participation in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
First, Nigeria failed to qualify in the relay races, following what sources described as administrative lapses by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has once again dragged the nation into ridicule by squandering its qualification slots for the relay events in Tokyo.
Through administrative lapses, including failure to complete proper registration and secure visas for athletes, the AFN’s negligence has robbed Nigeria of the chance to compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
This mismanagement underscores a culture of incompetence that continues to cost the country medals and global respect.
The development has sparked outrage among athletes and stakeholders, who labeled it another national disgrace.
Adding to the controversy, world record holder and reigning 100m hurdles champion, Tobi Amusan, exposed the poor treatment of Nigerian athletes in a video posted on her social media page Friday night.
In the clip, Amusan unboxed paper bags containing what she described as “inferior and inadequate” competition kits that appeared not to have been specifically designed for Nigerian athletes. For comparison, she noted that competitors from other countries received premium-quality racing and training kits neatly packed in branded suitcases.
“As it is now, I have to wear an adidas black tight,” Amusan said in the video, lamenting the lack of proper gear for her title defense in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, recent report indicated that Nigeria has loose another of its brightest prospects, sprinter Favour Ofili.
It was gathered Ofili may have already decided to switch allegiance to Turkey, a move that would make her eligible to represent the Turkish federation at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Observers say these developments highlight the persistent decay in Nigeria’s sports administration, fueled by mismanagement, poor funding, and passive corruption.
Analysts warn that unless urgent reforms are implemented in the AFN and wider sports sector, more elite athletes may follow the path of Amusan and Ofili, leaving Nigeria reputation stranded on global stage.
