AFN Praises NCAA Stars While Nigerian Athletics Crumbles at Home

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has hailed the performances of Nigerian athletes at the 2026 NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, but observers say the federation’s praise exposes deep hypocrisy.

While Nigerian student‑athletes abroad thrive under the NCAA collegiate system, home‑based athletes continue to suffer from poor leadership, lack of competitions, and unpaid prize money.

The only competition organized by the AFN in recent times still has outstanding payments, leaving local athletes disillusioned.

Beyond the borders, more than 40 emerging talents have already left Nigeria for the Middle East, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, in search of opportunities denied them at home.

Even coaches are leaving in droves, frustrated by a failed system that rewards sycophancy and mediocrity instead of merit.

Critics point to flagrant abuses of the federation’s constitution, including disputed elections that have undermined trust in its leadership.

Despite this, AFN President Tonobok Okowa has been quick to celebrate the NCAA triumphs of Kanyinsola Ajayi, Samuel Ogazi, and Israel Okon, athletes developed abroad, not by the federation.

These stars, despite their brilliance, survive on meager training grants of just $5,000 to $10,000 a year. Yet the AFN leadership claims their success as proof of progress, while failing to build a system at home that nurtures talent or protects athletes’ welfare.

Analysts warn that Nigerian athletics cannot thrive on empty praise. Without real investment, accountability, and structural reform, the federation risks losing more athletes and coaches to foreign systems, leaving the sport at home in steady decline.