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2 weeks ago
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Sports
September 2, 2025 by Our Reporter
The Chief Executive Officer of the Elite Athletes Development and Performance Board, Yussuf Amuda Alli, has explained the rationale behind Team Nigeria trim list to the forthcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Over the weekend the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) announced a 15-man list to the World Athletics Championships which hold in Tokyo, Japan, between September 13 and 21.
Speaking on the development, Alli said matter of factly that the era of ‘jamboree’ to international champions is over.
“The era of jamboree and going to major games and championships with a huge team that won’t benefit Team Nigeria in the long or the short run is over,” the Olympian and former Long Jumper said. “That is one of the issues that the Performance Board has been asked to fix by the NSC.”
He explained further that athletes who will benefit Team Nigeria in the short run are those who, based on their ranking and performances this season, have what it takes to reach the final of their events.
Those who will benefit Team Nigeria in the long run, he added, are young athletes with immense potential who need exposure to big-time competitions in front of massive crowds. Apart from tough competitors, stage fright also affects athletes’ performances.
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Dwelling on his own personal experience, Alli revealed that the late Chairman of the National Sports Commission(NSC), Isaac Akioye, took him to the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, fully aware it would take a miracle for him to win a medal, but believing the experience would change his story.
“The experience I got in Moscow defined my career,” Alli said. “Apart from my co-jumpers, the crowd were also competitors and after Moscow I mastered the act of competing in front huge crowd.
“Three years later, I became a world champion in Canada, so we are investing in athletes that have what it takes to get to the finals of their sport and young athletes who are future medallists.”
Heading Team Niger’s list to Tokyo is world record holder in the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, who has been in impressive form this season.
Shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who has a strong chance of making the final and contending for a medal, is number two on the list. He is followed by 400m hurdles sensation Ezekiel Nathaniel, as well as veteran jumper Ese Brume, the African record holder in the long jump with a personal best of 7.17m.
If Brume can rediscover her form in Tokyo — a city that has been a good hunting ground for her — she will almost certainly make the podium.
Also listed by Alli are: Samuel Ogazi (400m), Kayinsola Ajayi (100m), Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons (discus), Prestina Ochonogor (long jump), Obiageri Amaechi (discus), Charles Godfred (long jump), Rosemary Chukwuma (100m), Oyesade Olatoye (hammer), Israel S. Okon (100m), and Chidi Okezie (400m).
English (US)