Uncertainty now looms over the 2025 Nigeria National Athletics Trials, as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has yet to confirm whether the event will proceed as scheduled from July 31 to August 2 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The trials, a mandatory selection event for Nigeria’s senior athletes ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, were initially set to take place at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta. However, the certification status of the stadium’s tartan track remains unresolved, putting the entire event in doubt.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa acknowledged the uncertainty, telling our correspondent that no decision has been made due to the pending World Athletics certification.
“I am not sure, so I will not say anything,” Okowa said when asked for clarity on the venue. “Nobody can give concrete information because, at the moment, nobody is sure. Nobody knows anything. It all depends on when and if the certificate for the tartan track will be out.”
Although the Abeokuta facility has recently hosted the National Sports Festival in May and the CAA African U-18/U-20 Championships earlier in July, it remains uncertified for senior-level international qualification—a crucial requirement for trials tied to global championships.
A reliable AFN insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the federation is actively considering relocating the trials to either Benin City or Asaba due to the certification issues and additional concerns over logistics and accessibility for athletes nationwide.
“It’s true that Abeokuta is no longer being considered, and there are talks about shifting the venue to Benin or Asaba. The concern isn’t just about the track certification; logistics and access for athletes from across the country are also factors,” the official stated.
When asked if a venue change might also prompt a rescheduling of the trials, the source said no official update had been issued, further deepening the confusion surrounding the event—now just days away.
The continued uncertainty has left athletes, coaches, and sports institutions across the country in limbo. The trials remain compulsory for all athletes—both home-based and foreign-based—seeking selection for the Tokyo World Championships. Absence from the trials, except in medically justified cases, will result in automatic disqualification, even for those who have already met qualification standards.
