After ‘Trials’, AFN Announces Controversial Criteria for World Championships Selection

Just days after concluding the Nigerian Track and Field Championships in Lagos, which served as selection trials, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has released its team selection criteria for the upcoming World Championships Tokyo 2025—and the decision has sparked widespread confusion and frustration among athletes and stakeholders.

According to the AFN, only athletes who have met the Entry Standard or are ranked 1–20 in the World Ranking Quota will be selected. The criteria take immediate effect and will be enforced without exception, with athletes given until August 24 to qualify.

But critics argue that the AFN’s interpretation of the World Ranking Quota is either deeply flawed or deliberately exclusionary. For example, Prestina Ochonogor in the women’s long jump, three women’s discus throwers, and hammer thrower Sade Olatoye—all of whom qualify either via Area Champion status or are listed within the World Ranking Quota—would be excluded under the new rules simply because they are not in the top 20.

Similarly, Nigeria’s new 100m king Israel Okon and reigning African Games 400m champion Chidi Okezie may also miss out unless the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams qualify.

Ironically, just like women field eventers, both athletes are already listed among the 48 globally qualified athletes in the 100m and 400m respectively, yet the AFN’s criteria fail to acknowledge this.

‘This is putting the cart before the horse,’ one coach said. ‘Athletes should’ve known months ago what they were aiming for.’

The timing of the announcement—after the trials—has drawn sharp criticism. Stakeholders argue that athletes should have been informed of the selection framework months in advance to allow proper planning and qualification strategies.

This last-minute decision-making, they say, has become a hallmark of the federation’s operations since the early 2010s.

The AFN insists the criteria are designed to uphold professionalism and discipline, but many believe the vagueness and poor timing undermine athlete preparation and transparency.

The full Nigerian team list for Tokyo will be published after August 24. Until then, athletes and coaches are left scrambling to understand where they stand—and whether their efforts will count.