2024 Nigerian Track and Field Championships: AFN asked to explain how Ella Onojuvwevwo qualified to run in 200m final in a World Athletics approved competition

Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has been asked to explain how Ella Onojuvwevwo qualified to run in the final of the 200m event when she didn’t run in any of the three semifinal heats.

The bizarre scene at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City on Tuesday has left more questions without any tangible answer from the federation

Sportsnow.com.ng reporter in Benin asked some of the officials and athletes at the competition if the AFN announced there would be wild card for some athletes to compete in the final in a championship used as selection trial for athletes bidding to go to the Olympics.

‘The AFN did not tell us of any wild card. What we were told especially for the sprint events is that some athletes will run in the preliminary stage while some that have achieved a certain standard will join at the semifinal stage.

‘This Federation will not stop to confuse us with their technical incompetence. Alhaji A.K Amun, Smart Akraka and M.A.K Ogun will be turning in their graves now, crying to see what the federation has been turned into, the degredation of World Athletics’ competition rules,’ said a coach who preferred anonymity for the fear of being persecuted.

‘The Federation said in a memo that all athletes must compete to be eligible for selection but what did we see? Athletes opting out of competition while some ran in the heat but didn’t show up in the final. This is appalling. These people have killed our beloved sport of athletics,’ added the coach.

Sportsnow.com.ng notes that Favour Ashe, Godson Oghenebrume and Samuel Ogazi were in Benin but didn’t compete. These are some of the best athletes we have around and should have been good advertisement for the sport in Nigeria but they have been sacrificed to devalue the championship.

The coach recalls how a near similar incident of substituting competition rules for personal ones was averted in 2022 when an order was given by the leadership of AFN to allow an athlete who false started to run.

‘Samuel Fatunla was head of TIC at the competition and refused to heed the order. We need people who understand the rules and can protect them to be in charge and npt people seeking favours,’ revealed the coach.