Nigeria’s 100 metres hurdles star and World Record holder, Tobi Amusan, as well as Favour Ashe, Temitope Adeshina and other top foreign based athletes have already arrived in Lagos for the 2024 Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) National Trials holding in Benin City, the capital of Edo State capfrom June 16-18.
The AFN is using the event to pick the athletes that will represent Nigeria at the upcoming two major championships – Paris Olympic Games and Douala African Seniors Athletics Championships.
Meanwhile, the AFN board clarified the scheduling conflicts of the Trials with Salah celebration in the country.
According to the Federation, there was no intention to undermine the celebration of Eid-El-Kabir by Muslims, saying the clarification becomes necessary following steps by some individuals to paint the AFN as a body that does not have regards for the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in the country.
The AFN had earlier fixed June 26-28 for the National Trials, only for the Confederations of African Athletics (CAA) to announce a new date of June 21-26 for the African Senior Championships in Douala.
Since the AFN is using the National Trials to pick Nigerian athletes for the Cameroonian competition, there was a need to conclude the event in Benin City at least, two days before departure as majority of the athletes are foreign-based.
As soon as the African Senior Championships end in Douala, the athletes will on 1st July embark on a training tour overseas ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Amidst the crowded schedule, the AFN pleaded with the Muslim faithful, particularly MURIC, to bear with the federation.
