The Federal Government has urged the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to maintain professionalism and ensure strict compliance with the regulations governing the selection of athletes who will represent the country at the 2023 World Championships scheduled for Budapest, Hungary.
Today, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, made this call while the national trials are ongoing in Benin City, the capital of Edo State.
The Permanent Secretary, who has high hopes that the AFN Board members are of high caliber, believes that Nigeria will have the best athletes to compete at the World Championships. He also advised the athletes to give their best during the trials.
He assured that the Ministry is dedicated to providing equal opportunities for all athletes, both local and foreign, to compete at the trials with the aim of selecting the best athletes to represent Nigeria at the competition.
Alhaji Ismaila further stated that the Ministry will continue to ensure the full implementation of the policies and initiatives set forth by the Federal Government in order to provide opportunities for the youth to develop their sporting talents in line with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration’s policy direction.
Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced that it will exclude any foreign-based athlete who fails to participate in the national trials in Benin City, Edo State, from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Rita Mosindi, the Secretary General of AFN, stated that any foreign-based athlete who does not attend the national trials will not be considered for the trip to Budapest.
“AFN has a policy for selecting athletes for major competitions, including the World Championships. If you don’t participate in the national trials, you won’t go to Budapest. The only exception is if an athlete provides valid evidence of ill-health.
“In that case, our medical team must be notified and the board will make a decision. As of now, no athlete has informed me of their absence from the national trials. We have only heard rumors that some athletes will not be here, but the rules are clear. If you don’t come, forget about the ticket,” she said.
The AFN’s stance coincided with the training of 12 US-based athletes at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Monday. These athletes are preparing for the event, which will be used to select Nigeria’s representatives for the World Championships.
AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, also stated that it is the responsibility of the AFN to register athletes for the World Championships, therefore urging them to participate in the trials.