Athletes Assured of Free Participation as AFN Unveils Golden League Rewards

Athletes’ representative on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Henry Chinedu Okorie, has once again reassured stakeholders and competitors that no payment is required to participate in AFN competitions.

In a statement released via Facebook, Okorie stressed that any athlete or stakeholder making payments to the AFN does so at their own loss, as the federation has taken a firm position that no competitor will be disenfranchised.

He explained that he had already communicated his stance to the AFN Board before any discussions about payments, insisting that the federation should first carry out sustainable administrative reforms and publish audited accounts on its website before considering athlete subscriptions.

‘These barrages of calls are not necessary because we have taken a position and no athlete will be disenfranchised in any way,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the AFN has released details of prize money for its first Golden League event scheduled to hold in Benin City.

The competition, which forms part of the 2026 AFN Golden League series, will feature premium and classic events with cash rewards ranging from ₦100,000 for winners in premium categories to ₦80,000 for winners in classic categories.

Promotional events will also be staged as part of the programme, with accumulated points across the series determining overall rankings ahead of the final leg in Uyo.

The AFN has also made clear that all welfare, accommodation, feeding, transportation, and logistics will be the sole responsibility of participating athletes, states, clubs, and institutions.

This no-subsidy stance has already sparked debate, with critics arguing that leaving athletes to self-fund participation undermines the credibility of a competition intended to elevate Nigerian athletics to international standards.