AFN national trials begin on flying note

AFN national trials begin on flying note

The 2026 Commonwealth Games national trials have commenced at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Lagos on a great note with athletes competing across various events.

After a one-day shift, the Technical Committee of the AFN eventually jettisoned the earlier qualifying standards and opened up the events to all registered athletes for the trials.

Yabatech Sports Complex is agog with Nigerian star athletes both home and abroad as well as top athletics and sports administrators including the Director-General, National Sports Commission, Chief Bukola Olopade, AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, former AFN President, Solomon Ogba, AFN 1st Vice President, Abubakar Ladan Zurmi, and others.

Olympian Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Chidi Okezie, Adekalu Fakorede, Divine Oladipupo, Blessing Ogundinran, Adaobi Tabugbo, and Oyesade Oyetayo are leading the pack of US-based athletes to the trials.

Other foreign- based athletes gracing the track and field are James Emmanuel, Prestina Ochonogor, Favour Ashe, Nyenuchi Okemgbo, Olajide Olayinka, Tyler Johnson, Elo Esther Joseph, and Victory Achakpokri.

Nigerian-based athletes at the trials include national 100m champion, Chidera Ezeakor, Olympian Enoch Adegoke, Tejiri Godwin, Miracle Ezechukwu, Maria Thompson, Rosemary Chigozie, quarter milers Emmanuel Ojeli, Nathaniel Samson, Sikiru Adeyemi, and Patience Okon-George.

In a remark, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Chief Tonobok Okowa, commended both young and elite athletes across various events that have enjoyed outstanding season so far.

Chief Okowa said the AFN Board is striving hard in close collaboration with the leadership of the National Sports Commission to make the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow the most successful outing for Nigeria.

The AFN President urged the athletes to compete fairly at the trial as they hope to see them set new records and personal best in various events.

The AFN received over one thousand entries by the athletes at the 2026 National Trials holding between 21st and 23rd of June 2026 at the Yabatech Sports Complex, Yaba, Lagos.