‘What rubbish is all this?’: Obayiwuana slams Nigeria’s kit shame in Tokyo

International sports journalist and Nigeria-born commentator Osasu Obayiuwana has reignited public outrage over the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, following the latest kit scandal at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

In a blistering post on his X page, Obayiuwana didn’t mince words.

‘What is going on with the #TeamNigeria kit for the #WorldAthleticsChamps in Tokyo? Why does #Nigeria have to be a mess every time? This rubbish also happened in 1991, in Tokyo, for the very same event!’

Obayiuwana’s frustration mirrors the disbelief of millions of Nigerians who watched Tobi Amusan, the reigning world record holder in the 100m hurdles, post a video revealing that athletes were handed incomplete kits.

No spikes. No warm-up gear. No competition bags. No dignity. While other nations arrived with professionally packed equipment, Nigeria’s contingent scrambled with two pairs of basic items and no essentials.

Obayiuwana’s outrage is rooted in the lived reality of Nigerian athletes. Forced to wash kits between events, borrow gear, or compete without essentials, they are made to feel like beggars on the world stage. This is not just a national embarrassment, it’s international ridicule.

In 1999, under FILA sponsorship, Nigerian athletes were properly kitted for the World Indoor Championships in Maebashi, the World Outdoor Championships in Sevilla, and the Sydney Olympics.

Sponsorship funds were also used to support training grants for both home and foreign-based athketes.

Today, the AFN is reduced to ‘fine bara’, begging for government money while failing to deliver the bare minimum.