Nigerian Athletes Thriving Again at NCAA Stage as AFN Battles Age-Cheating Scandal, Incompetence
While the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, grapples with breaches of World Athletics technical rule 3.2 and integrity code 3.3.1, Nigerian student athletes competing in the NCAA are proving that the nation’s problem is not a lack of talent, but the inefficiency of those running the sport at home.
High jumper Temitope Adeshina is emerging as a history-maker. On January 17 in Lubbock, she cleared 1.93m, a mark that places her second on the world list behind reigning world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who soared to 2.03m on the same day.
Adeshina’s trajectory suggests she could soon break Nigeria’s national record again and potentially become the first Nigerian woman to hit the 2m barrier.
In the 400m indoors, Chioma Nwachukwu who was recently cleared of age-cheating allegations by the AFN sits atop the global rankings with the 52.14 she ran in Fayetteville, Arkansas on January 16.
Esther Elo Joseph has also been making headlines, dropping down to the 200m to clock 23.11 on January 10, briefly topping the world list before American Tiriah Kelley became the first woman to dip under 23 seconds this year.
Joseph’s time makes her the joint sixth-fastest Nigerian ever over the distance, alongside Ella Onojuvwevwo. She also impressed in the 300m, running 36.41 in Fayetteville, the third-fastest time in the world this year and second on Nigeria’s all-time list behind Favour Ofili.
Kelly Ufodiama has added to Nigeria’s growing presence on the global stage, running 7.14 in Louisville on January 9 to rank joint fourth fastest in the world over 60m.
On the men’s side, reigning African Games champion Chidi Okezie continues to show consistency. He clocked 46.62 in Luxembourg just five days ago, placing him 10th fastest in the world over 400m this year.
These performances underline the depth of Nigerian talent flourishing abroad, even as the AFN remains mired in scandal and administrative paralysis.
