The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has pushed back against accusations by world record holder Tobi Amusan that Nigerian athletes were given substandard kits for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
Amusan, seen as Nigeria’s top medal hopeful, had sparked outrage on Snapchat after alleging that while athletes from other nations received full suitcases of gear, Nigerians were handed only “small nylon bags” with two questionable outfits and no footwear—despite officials collecting shoe sizes. The revelation fueled criticism online and revived concerns about athlete welfare, following Favour Ofili’s recent switch to Turkey.
Responding, AFN President Tonobok Okowa dismissed the claims, insisting that Amusan and her teammates got the complete set of apparel supplied by sponsor Hiracer, which also outfits 20 other countries.
He explained that delivery came in batches and accused Tobi Amusan of showing only part of her allocation. “They even got spike shoes and covers,” Okowa said, clarifying that the only missing items were travel bags already 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 instead of controversies. He further disclosed that Amusan had been given business class travel, while all other athletes flew economy.
Hiracer later confirmed its distribution was the same across all 20 countries, contradicting Tobi Amusan’s claims.
The dispute underscores lingering tensions between Nigerian athletes and officials. Amusan, who won gold at the 2022 World Championships, has been outspoken on welfare issues. With the Tokyo championships running from September 13–21, observers worry the row could overshadow Nigeria’s 15-athlete squad in their medal hunt.
