Track and field in turmoil: Nigeria’s athletics trials sink into confusion, silence, and controversy

As Nigeria’s top athletes prepare to represent the nation on the global stage, the very structure meant to support them is teetering on collapse.

With less than a week to go before the scheduled national track and field championships—crucial selection trials for the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this August—the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has left competitors in limbo.

Originally slated for July 31 to August 2 in Abeokuta, the trials have fallen into uncertainty. Not a single official communication or invitation has been sent to states, paramilitary bodies, or eligible athletes. The silence from the AFN has thrown months of training into disarray.

‘We don’t even know if the trials are happening,’ lamented one frustrated official. ‘There’s no letter, no confirmation, no leadership.’

Further compounding the crisis is the technical failure of the MKO Abiola Stadium track, previously used for the CAA U18 and U20 Championships.

According to multiple sources, World Athletics refused to recognize results from those youth events due to the unapproved and substandard track surface—a damning indictment for Nigeria’s readiness.

Despite the venue’s disqualification, the AFN has yet to announce an alternative or acknowledge the issue publicly.

At the heart of the chaos lies the controversial June 2025 AFN election, which ushered in Tonobok Okowa as federation president.

The process has triggered multiple legal challenges, with critics citing constitutional breaches, electoral irregularities, and disregard for judicial orders.

Now, World Athletics is investigating the legitimacy of the board, following petitions detailing overvoting, improper congress notification, and the formation of an unauthorized electoral committee.

With the outcome pending, the federation’s authority to organize national trials remains legally and ethically uncertain.

Experts in sports science and coaching agree: advance notice is non-negotiable for optimal athlete performance.

Knowing a championship’s date, according to these experts, enables:

Training Periodization: Strategic planning across weeks to peak at the right time

Recovery and Tapering: Gradual reduction of workload to avoid injury and fatigue

Mental Preparation: Visualization, confidence-building, and psychological readiness

Nutritional Control: Adjustments in diet and hydration for strength and stamina

Nigeria’s current approach has violated basic performance protocols and placed its athletes at a physiological disadvantage.

‘This is not just incompetence—it’s a governance vacuum,’ said one concerned stakeholder, pleading for urgent intervention from the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Calls are growing for Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko to step in and salvage the situation.

As the countdown to the World Championships continues, Nigeria’s track and field contingent is left stranded—without leadership, without clarity, and without a lifeline.