AFN Faces Backlash as Asaba Commonwealth Games Camp Excludes Distance Runners
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has opened camp in Asaba, Delta State, with 32 athletes invited to begin a six-week training programme ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The list, however, contains no distance runners, continuing a pattern that has seen the federation sideline the discipline in its build-up programmes.
The athletes, split evenly between 16 men and 16 women, are drawn from sprints, relays, jumps, and throws. They arrived in Asaba on Saturday for the first phase of preparations, which the AFN says is designed to sharpen fitness levels, improve technical execution, and foster team cohesion before the international competition.
The omission of distance runners has once again sparked criticism. Former athletes and coaches who specialize in distance running have voiced concern, describing the neglect as an anomaly.
They question what role National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko is playing in safeguarding the interests of the discipline, with some accusing the AFN of deliberately undermining distance running because the discipline is dominated by athletes from the northern part of Nigeria .
Critics argue that Nigeria cannot boast of hosting two Gold Label road races and preparing to stage a global running conference this month, while at the same time paying lip service to the development of the athletes that shoud be a measure of growth recorded in distance running.
They insist that distance running could serve as a vital tool in addressing social challenges such as poverty alleviation and youth engagement.
The camp itself is being supervised by a six-man technical crew led by AFN Head Coach Solomon Aliyu, who will oversee training sessions and performance evaluations.
He is supported by specialist coaches in sprints, relays, hurdles, and jumps, while AFN Technical Director Gabriel Okon, who is also listed as a coach, is coordinating the technical framework, athlete monitoring, and compliance with federation standards.
