Baseless attacks on NSC, AFN threaten Nigeria’s relay dreams

Baseless attacks on NSC, AFN threaten Nigeria’s relay dreams

At a time when Nigerian athletics is striving for global relevance, a wave of uninformed and, in many quarters, deliberate criticism is threatening to derail genuine progress being made by the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The decision to send a strong, well-structured delegation alongside Team Nigeria to the Lefika International Relay Championship in Gaborone, Botswana, a competition with direct qualification stakes for the World Relay Championships, has inexplicably come under fire from faceless critics.

But stakeholders within the athletics community are not mincing words: this is not just misguided criticism; it is a dangerous distraction.

For context, the Lefika Relays is not a routine meet. It is the athletics equivalent of a World Cup qualifier in football.

No serious nation approaches such a high-stakes competition casually.

The question then is simple: would the Nigeria Football Federation send the Super Eagles to a World Cup qualifying match without top-level officials such as the President or Secretary General providing leadership and oversight?

The answer is obvious.

So why should athletics be treated any differently?

Sources who spoke to AFN Media Team expressed deep concern over what they describe as a calculated attempt by disgruntled elements to destabilize the current leadership of the AFN and undermine the renewed commitment of the NSC to sports development.

According to them, this pattern of criticism is not only selective but suspiciously targeted, focused almost entirely on the AFN and its leadership while other federations enjoying similar financial backing remain untouched.

Even more troubling is the broader impact of such negativity.

In an era where sports federations are battling to attract corporate sponsorship and public goodwill, relentless and often baseless attacks risk painting a picture of instability.

Sponsors are naturally wary of controversy, and this kind of narrative only serves to drive them away, ultimately hurting the very athletes these critics claim to defend.

The irony is glaring. For the first time in years, the NSC has shown tangible commitment by financially supporting sporting bodies across the board.

Athletes in camp in Asaba, many of whom did not spend up to four weeks—received ₦175,000 each.

Those who also competed at the Calabar Athletics Meet earned an additional ₦100,000.

These are not the actions of a system in neglect; they are signs of progress.

Yet, even these efforts are being twisted into talking points for dissent.

The AFN, on its part, has assembled a formidable squad to compete in four key events: the men’s 4×100m, mixed 4×100m, men’s 4×400m, and mixed 4×400m relays.

These are Nigeria’s finest, carrying the nation’s hopes against top contenders including Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and even Poland.

What these athletes need now is not noise, but support.

It is becoming increasingly clear that beyond the rhetoric lies a more troubling agenda.

The same group of critics, insiders allege, were instrumental in stirring unrest during the recent athletes’ camp in Asaba, an incident that now appears less like genuine grievance and more like orchestrated disruption.

Nigerian athletics stands at a critical juncture. With improved funding, better organization, and a renewed sense of purpose, the sport finally has a chance to reclaim its lost glory on the global stage.

But progress cannot thrive in an environment poisoned by constant, unfounded attacks.

Constructive criticism will always have its place in sports administration. But what is being witnessed now goes beyond that, it is a campaign of distraction, one that risks undoing hard-earned gains.

If Nigeria must compete and win, on the world stage, then unity, not division, must take center stage.