The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is once again under intense global scrutiny, facing a potential major scandal over allegations of age falsification among its athletes. This marks the second such crisis for the federation in just two years.
World Athletics Issues Stern Deadline to Nigeria
The World Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has handed Nigeria a firm deadline of January 16, 2026, to provide clear explanations regarding discrepancies in the dates of birth for 17 Nigerian athletes. These athletes participated in the 2025 African Combined U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships held in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The AIU's letter, dated December 2, 2025, signals serious concerns about the integrity of Nigeria's participation in age-grade competitions.
This is not an isolated incident. In June 2024, the AIU previously queried the AFN over similar discrepancies involving four athletes preparing for the World U-20 Championships in Lima, Peru. At that time, the integrity body noted it had identified athletes with two, three, or sometimes more completely different dates of birth used to enter various competitions.
Shocking Discrepancies and Deliberate Manipulation
The AIU's latest findings reveal a pattern that suggests deliberate manipulation rather than innocent clerical errors. The cases presented are stark:
- Juliana Ademola Temitope was listed as born in 2005 in earlier competitions, but her date of birth was changed to 2006 for the African Junior Championships.
- Adeola Adenji Muideen appeared with a 2004 birthdate in Lagos records but was registered as born in 2009 elsewhere.
- Esther Aiffigbo competed in 2025 as an athlete born in 2006, while her World Athletics profile lists 2002 as her birth year.
- Ibrahim Ajibare has no fewer than four different dates of birth, ranging from 2002 to 2009.
- Emmanuel Blessing’s date of birth was entered as 2007 at the Juniors competition but recorded as 2002 at the Asaba Trials.
The AIU has demanded that the AFN submit verifiable documents to prove the athletes' true ages. These documents include birth certificates, all passports, national ID cards, medical records, and comprehensive education records. Failure to provide credible, contemporaneous evidence by the deadline will trigger a formal investigation into age manipulation, a clear violation of the World Athletics Technical Rules and Integrity Code of Conduct.
A Systemic Problem with Deep Roots
The issue of age falsification in Nigerian athletics is viewed by many as a systemic failure. Olamide George, a former President of the AFN, stated from his base in the United States that this scandal has long been a troubling shadow over the federation's integrity. He emphasized that for every cheat, there must be a penalty, suggesting that the AIU's stricter sanctions could be a turning point.
George called for systemic reform, including advanced biometric solutions and better data verification systems to prevent document tampering. He also highlighted the ethical dilemma of punishing athletes, particularly minors, whose documents may have been altered by parents, coaches, or administrators without their consent.
Meanwhile, AFN President Tonobok Okowa has attempted to deflect blame from the federation. In a radio interview, he insisted that athletes and their coaches are solely responsible for the infractions, calling their behavior worrisome. He claimed the AFN has a perfected database and was shocked to find athletes using different dates of birth.
This stance has been strongly contested. Solomon Aliu, President of the Athletics Coaches Association of Nigeria and AFN's Head Coach, absolved coaches of blame. He argued that the scandal is more of a record-keeping problem and that a functional AFN database should flag any discrepancies immediately. He stated that coaches are not the federation's record-keepers and should not bear the brunt of the blame.
Adding historical context, Monday Akpoyibo, a former Secretary of the Delta State Athletics Association, claimed the problem became rampant during the tenure of a former AFN president driven by a win-at-all-costs mentality. He contrasted this with the zero-tolerance approach of past leaders like Adeyemi Wilson and Dan Ngerem.
Potential Consequences and a Call for Reform
The potential fallout for Nigeria is severe. If the AFN fails to provide satisfactory explanations and evidence, the country faces another round of damaging investigations that could tarnish the reputation of its athletes and the nation's sporting image globally. Sanctions could include athlete suspensions, bans for implicated officials, and penalties for the federation itself.
This scandal underscores a critical need for profound reform within Nigerian athletics. Stakeholders agree that beyond sanctions, there must be a concerted effort to restore integrity, implement transparent systems, and create pathways for athletes to succeed on merit alone. The world is watching, and Nigeria's response to this latest query will be a definitive test of its commitment to fair play and sportsmanship.
