CAA African U18/U20 Athletics Championships: Nigeria on alert as AFN launches trials amid age fraud scrutiny
With the CAA African U18/U20 Athletics Championships set for July 16–20, 2025, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has scheduled its selection trials to begin Monday, June 30, in Shagamu. But this year, the stakes are higher than ever.
Following a damning query from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in 2024 over age discrepancies involving four Nigerian athletes, the AFN has been warned to ensure that only age-eligible athletes are selected to avoid another international embarrassment.
The AIU’s letter, dated June 7, 2024, accused the AFN of registering athletes with multiple dates of birth for the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. The inconsistencies were so severe that the AIU questioned the authenticity of the athletes’ passports and other identification documents.
The AFN was ordered to submit a comprehensive set of records—including passports, birth certificates, school and medical documents—by June 21, 2024.
Among the athletes under scrutiny were a male double gold medalist from the African U18/U20 Championships and three female athletes: a sprinter, a hurdler, and a long/triple jumper.
Sportsnow.com.ng learnt the probe has gone deeper as over 12 Nigerian athletes are now under AIU scrutiny.
Former AFN board member Dare Esan has since criticized the federation’s win-at-all-costs mentality, stressing that the U18/U20 Championships are developmental in nature, not a battleground for manufactured victories.
‘The focus should be on nurturing talent, not chasing medals through manipulation,’ he said.
The AIU’s concerns echo warnings issued to Athletics Kenya (AK), urging the most successful athletics federation in Africa to be vigilant against age cheating.
World Athletics (WA) has reportedly adopted advanced age verification methods that go beyond the date of birth listed on passports.
In response, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation has taken a hardline stance. Of the 76 athletes initially selected to represent Ethiopia in Nigeria, only 22 passed the age verification tests—a staggering 54 were disqualified for age falsification.
