AFN in race to produce two teams at national trials in Benin

Top Nigerian stars set for the National Athletics Trials billed to hold from June 21 to 23 in Benin City, Edo State. PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

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The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) faces an uphill, but surmountable task, as it moves to produce two teams at the national trials in Benin City to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games in England and the World Athletics U-20 Championships, tagged Cali 2022 in Colombia.

While the Commonwealth Games is slated to hold from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, the World U-20 Athletics championship will hold in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, from August 1 to 6.

At the last World U20 Athletics Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, Nigeria recorded one of its biggest sports achievements in track and field, finishing third on the medals table with four gold and three bronze medals. Prior to the Nairobi event, the highest Nigeria ever recorded on the medals table was the seventh spot it achieved in 1990 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with two gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

Before the Commonwealth Games in late July, AFN has a major task in Oregon, U.S., where the nation’s athletes will participate in the 2022 World Senior Athletics Championship from July 15 to 25.

The Guardian learnt yesterday that the leadership of the AFN is still searching for funds to prepare and prosecute the three assignments.

A source hinted yesterday that AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, is in talks with the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, on how to fund the competitions.

“The AFN just came from the African Athletics Championships in Mauritius, and a lot of money was spent. The Federal Government has to come to its aid.