World record holder and reigning 100m hurdles champion, Tobi Amusan, has publicly criticized the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for providing what she described as substandard and inadequate kits for Nigerian athletes preparing for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
In a Snapchat video that quickly went viral, Amusan — one of Nigeria’s biggest medal prospects — expressed frustration at what she called the continued neglect of athletes by Nigerian sports authorities.
Speaking partly in pidgin, the sprint hurdler said:
“As it is now, I have to wear a black adidas tight. I go show you wetin Jamaica. When I tell you say Jamaica is in the same WhatsApp group with Nigeria, but dem no worse like Nigeria. Nigeria, all the other countries give their athletes two kits. See wetin Nigeria pack give us. This country is really embarrassing.”
Amusan’s outburst has reignited conversations about the poor treatment of Nigerian athletes, especially ahead of major international competitions.
This is not the first time Nigerian athletes have spoken up about inadequate support. Earlier this year, Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre also voiced concerns over the lack of basic facilities provided to the women’s national football team during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
In an interview with Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, Plumptre revealed that the players were housed in a hotel without a gym or proper recovery facilities throughout the tournament.
“With teams like England, you see the investment and planning that goes into supporting players. For us, we were physically drained by the end. We had to use a public gym towards the end of the tournament because our hotel didn’t have one,” she said.
Plumptre added that it was unclear whether the Nigerian Football Federation or tournament organizers (CAF) were responsible for the arrangements, leaving players uncertain about who to hold accountable.
Amusan’s remarks have sparked public outrage, with many Nigerians calling for urgent reforms in sports administration and better treatment of athletes representing the country on the global stage.
