Sports Minister inaugurates AFN/Doha 2019 review Committee

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare Monday inaugurated a committee to review the participation of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. The Minister says the move is part of measures to forestall a recurrence of the challenges that resulted in a poor showing for Team Nigeria at the championships.

The inauguration, which held at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, set the terms of reference for the Committee, chiefly amongst which is to investigate the factors responsible for the less than impressive performance of Nigeria’s athletes at the championships as well as the remote and immediate factors responsible for the avoidable disqualification of Blessing Okagbare and Divine Oduduru.

“The committee is also saddled with the responsibility to make recommendations that will ensure improved performance of Nigeria’s athletes at major championships as well as any other recommendations as may be deemed fit,” the Minister said.

The Committee has Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, Dr Umar Bindi, Prof Ken Anugweje, Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali, Dare Esan and Maria Worphil who will also serve as the Committee’s secretary.

During Doha 2019, the Minister directed the recall of Sunday Adeleye, Technical Director of the AFN from the Championships on the heels of technical and administrative lapses that embarrassed the nation.

Nigeria won a bronze medal at the championships courtesy of long jumper, Ese Brume who became the second Nigerian to win a field event medal in the history of the competition.