Nigeria has no representative in the both Men’s and Women’s 100m race final at the ongoing IAAF World championship in Budapest, Hungary.
The final won by American Sha’Carri Richardson featured Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica), Shericka Jackson (Jamaica), Sha’Carri Richardson (USA), Ewa Swoboda (POL), Brittany Brown (USA), Dina Asher-Smith (GBR), Tamari Davis (USA) and the only African representative Marie Josée Ta Lou (CIV).
Nigeria’s sole entrant in the women’s category was Rosemary Chukwuma who couldn’t mke into the final.
Chukwuma’s best performance was a semi-final place, where she finished 8th in her heart, clocking a time of 11.26s.
Also in the Men’s category Nigerian Champion Usheoritse Itsekiri finished eighth in Heat 1 of the men’s 100m with a 10.19s clocking.
It’s clear that there are various factors contributing to the failure and absence of Nigerian representatives in these events and it does indeed emphasize the need for total overhauling and improvements within the country’s athletics system, starting from fighting corruption and mismanagement.
Inadequate funding from the Government and modern training facilities are another challenges for Nigerian athletes’ development and success.
Additionally, Athletics Federation of Nigeria is in need of visionary leaders that will prioritize transparency, accountability, and fair governance to rebuild trust and create an environment conducive to athletes development.
Addressing these problems is indeed crucial for attracting sponsors and investments, for enhancement of the performance of athletes on international stages.
