Athletics

World Championships: ‘Una never ready’, Amusan knocks AFN over Nigeria’s kits

World record holder and former world champion, Tobi Amusan, has taken a swipe at Nigerian sports authorities over what she described as shabby preparations for the World Championships in Tokyo.

Hours before the competition’s opening, the 100m hurdles star went public with her frustration, accusing the Athletics Federation of Nigeria of a lack of professionalism and poor treatment of athletes.

In a Snapchat video, Amusan contrasted Nigeria’s arrangements with those of other nations, saying while rival teams receive well-packaged kits in suitcases, Nigerian athletes are handed nylon bags containing just a few items.

“This country will steadily embarrass you. Una come say make people nor switch allegiance? Una never ready!” she said in pidgin.

“All the other countries they gave their athletes suitcases. See what Nigeria used to pack kits for athletes. Every year, that’s how we collect it. Inside one small nylon bag,” she added.

She also criticised the poor quality and limited quantity of the gear, pointing out that the kits easily peel when athletes sweat.

“They gave us two. Everything two… Where long sleeves? No singlet, no nothing,” Amusan lamented, adding that despite officials collecting shoe sizes, no shoes were supplied.

Amusan also highlighted that despite officials collecting shoe sizes, no shoes were included in the kit bags.

“So as it is now, I have to wear my Adidas black tights. My fans they collected our shoe sizes,” she said.

On the video caption, she wrote ‘abeg which country dey find athletes’ in pidgin, hinting at a nationality switch like Turkey-bound Favour Ofili.

The 15-athlete contingent will be led by Amusan as they prepare to compete against other elite athletes across various disciplines at the World Athletics Championships, which runs from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo.

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