The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has rejected allegations from world record holder Tobi Amusan that Nigerian athletes received sub-standard kits for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
Amusan expressed her concerns on Snapchat, stating that while athletes from other countries received suitcases filled with apparel, Nigerian competitors were given only “small nylon bags” containing two questionable outfits and no footwear, despite officials collecting shoe sizes.
Her comments quickly sparked outrage on social media and revived concerns about athlete welfare, especially in light of fellow Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili’s recent switch of allegiance to Turkey.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa dismissed Amusan’s criticisms, asserting that she and her teammates were provided with a complete set of kits supplied at no cost by sportswear sponsor Hiracer, which outfits athletes from 20 countries.
He explained that the items were delivered in batches and accused Amusan of displaying only a portion of her allocated kit.
“They even received spike shoes and covers,” he added, noting that the only missing item was travel bags, which had already been provided by World Athletics.
Okowa also highlighted Hiracer’s podium bonuses, $30,000 for gold, $20,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze, urging athletes to focus on their performance.
Furthermore, he revealed that Amusan received preferential treatment when it came to travel arrangements.
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“All other athletes flew economy, but Tobi requested business class, and we granted her that,” he said.
Hiracer later confirmed that its kit distribution was consistent across all 20 nations, contradicting Amusan’s claims.
The dispute underscores the ongoing tension between Nigerian athletes and officials.
Amusan, who won gold at the 2022 World Championships, has been outspoken about issues related to athlete welfare.
With the Tokyo competition scheduled for September 13-21, there are concerns that this controversy could distract Nigeria’s 15-athlete squad from their pursuit of medals.
