The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is in a state of high anxiety as a crucial deadline from the World Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) draws near. The board is reportedly scrambling for solutions to a damaging age falsification scandal that threatens severe repercussions for the federation and implicated officials.
The AIU Query and Mounting Pressure
On December 2, 2025, the AIU, World Athletics' age regulatory body, issued a formal query to the AFN. The query demanded an explanation for a glaring discrepancy: 16 out of 17 athletes entered for the 2025 African U18 & U20 Championships in Abeokuta had registered with multiple and conflicting dates of birth. This discovery has thrown the federation's administrative competence into serious question.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) reacted strongly to the AIU's intervention. NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, expressed clear displeasure, vowing that heads will roll if any official is found culpable. He assured Nigerians the matter would not be swept under the carpet, emphasizing a zero-tolerance stance towards age cheating in Nigerian sports.
A Federation in Disarray Seeking Answers
According to sources close to the AFN board, the federation has been unable to formulate a concrete answer to satisfy the AIU's query. "As we speak, the AFN board is yet to find a concrete excuse to convince AIU on the query," a source revealed. "And they are running from pillar to post looking for a solution. Time is not on their side."
The AIU has set a firm deadline of January 16, 2026, for the AFN to provide verifiable evidence. Stakeholders insist the federation must present authentic documents such as:
- Birth certificates
- International passports
- School records
- Medical files
Failure to provide this evidence will trigger a full-scale AIU investigation into potential age manipulation, a serious breach of the Integrity Code of Conduct.
Potential Fallout and Calls for Reform
The Director General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, urged the AFN to put its house in order, display competence, and prevent international embarrassment. The scandal has also drawn criticism from former AFN President, Olamide George, who stated that age falsification has long been a troubling shadow over the federation's integrity under the current leadership.
George noted that the AIU's stricter sanctions could be a turning point. "For every cheat, there must be a penalty," he said, outlining potential consequences which could include:
- Suspension of affected athletes.
- Bans for officials implicated in the fraud.
- Significant penalties for the federation itself.
This incident recalls that the AFN had set up a committee to investigate the matter last year, but the impending AIU deadline now elevates the crisis to an international level, with Nigeria's athletic reputation on the line.
