Nigerian distance runners frustrated as AFN ignores Cross Country season

As the global cross-country season picks up pace, Nigerian distance runners are expressing deep frustration over their exclusion from national programmes.

Many athletes and coaches believe the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, has failed to support long distance running, a move they say is hurting both the sport and the country’s broader development goals.

Cross country races are widely known to help athletes prepare for major road events like 10km runs and marathons. Yet, despite this, the AFN has shown little interest in organizing or promoting the discipline.

Veteran athletics journalist Dare Esan described the situation as a missed opportunity, noting that road races in Nigeria can offer up to ₦5 million in prize money, while track events often offer less than ₦100,000.

Esan believes that investing in distance running could help reduce poverty and crime, especially in northern Nigeria, where many talented runners come from. He envisions a future where Nigerian athletes consistently run elite times and compete globally, earning prize money that currently goes to East African runners.

He also pointed out that race organizers could save money by using homegrown talent. According to World Athletics rules, elite athletes required for a label race can all come from a single country, provided they meet the qualifying performance standards set by World Athletics.

This means that race organizers are not obligated to invite international athletes just for diversity’s sake. As long as the athletes meet the elite time criteria, such as sub-30 minutes for men or sub-32 minutes for women in a 10km race, they can all be from the same nation and still satisfy the requirements for a Label race.

This rule offers a significant opportunity for countries like Nigeria to develop homegrown talent, reduce event costs (such as travel and accommodation for foreign athletes), and still host internationally recognized races.

This means events like the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race and the Lagos City Marathon could cut costs on travel and logistics by relying on Nigerian athletes.

Esan urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) to take the lead in developing distance running, warning that the AFN appears uninterested in the discipline despite its potential and deep roots in Nigeria’s northern communities.

Earlier this year, NSC Chairman Malam Shehu Dikko announced a bold plan to challenge East African dominance in long distance running within one year. He made the statement after the ECOWAS Half Marathon in Abuja, where Nigerian runners finished third in both male and female categories.

Dikko expressed confidence in Nigeria’s potential, citing regions like Jos and Taraba as ideal training grounds. He emphasized that the NSC is serious about talent development, with dozens of officials present at the marathon to scout future stars.

He also celebrated a recent milestone, a Nigerian runner finishing eighth at the 10th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, the first time a local athlete has placed in the top 10.

Despite these encouraging words, there is little evidence that the NSC has taken concrete steps toward its one year goal.

A competitive cross country season, coaching seminars, and training programmes should have been part of the plan, but none have materialized. Many fear that these efforts may be postponed until after the 2028 Olympics, as officials continue to focus on winning medals at regional and continental events without any corresponding results at the global levels, especially at World Championships and the Olympic Games.