Former Nigerian sprinter, Blessing Okagbare, has joined other athletics stakeholders in criticizing the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for stating that women’s 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan, has no reason to complain about the kits provided for athletes at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Over the weekend, Amusan shared a video showing the incomplete competition kits given to Nigerian athletes. The package lacked a competition bag, spikes, and trainers or tennis shoes, while athletes from other countries received full sets, including tracksuits and more.
Instead of addressing Amusan’s concerns raised in the viral video, the AFN argued that the Olympic finalist, three-time Diamond League winner, former world champion, and five-time African champion had no justification to complain since the federation had purchased a business-class ticket for her trip to Tokyo.
In a statement signed by AFN President Tonobok Okowa, the federation denied Amusan’s claims, maintaining that athletes were provided “complete kits” and were already using them in Tokyo.
Reacting, Okagbare said such a remark should not have come from a responsible body.
Recalling a similar situation during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she wrote on her X handle: “You are trying to condemn an athlete for stating the obvious. So what if you bought her a business class flight ticket?
“You know, in 2021, when we got the best sponsorship deal from a shoes company, those in power from the MOC and FP, even one always acting as the federation president, while he wasn’t anymore, did all they could to sabotage it.
“I asked one what they stood to gain if we didn’t get those gears, and he rolled his eyes at me. I wrote about it on my social media platform, and I got a message warning me to stay out if it or I would get what I was looking for.
“Days later, we all saw what happened.”
It will be recalled that in 2019, the AFN signed a $2.7 million deal with Puma to supply uniforms to Nigerian athletes for four years. Under the agreement, each athlete was to receive 40 items. However, Puma terminated the deal after one athlete was filmed re-washing his uniform and 10 Nigerian athletes were disqualified from the 2020 Olympics because the AFN failed to register them for mandatory doping tests.
As part of the agreement, Puma had also pledged to pay $15,000 for each gold medal, $5,000 for silver, and $3,000 for bronze. Reports at the time alleged that the then sports minister blocked the use of Puma kits because the deal was signed without his approval, leaving the athletes shortchanged.