Media Team
Olympic medalist Blessing Okagbare has renewed her criticism of Nigeria’s sports leadership, claiming they suppress athletes, sabotage sponsorship deals, and hide administrative failures.
In multiple posts on X (formerly Twitter), Okagbare accused officials from the Sports Ministry, Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), and Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) of deliberately obstructing athletes and ruining opportunities that could have boosted Nigerian athletics.
“They constantly try to silence athletes. Who does this? Even when an athlete presents undeniable facts, they use their media outlets to discredit them and mask their own incompetence,” she wrote.
She recounted a 2021 incident before the Tokyo Olympics, where Nigerian athletes secured a major sponsorship deal with a global shoe brand. However, she alleged that officials sabotaged the agreement for personal gain.
“When we secured that sponsorship, officials from the MOC and FP—including someone falsely acting as federation president—worked to block it. I confronted one, asking what they gained by denying us the gear, and he just dismissed me,” she said.
Okagbare claimed she faced threats after speaking out.
“I posted about it online and received a warning to back off, saying I’d regret it. Days later, the expected fallout happened,” she added.
She insisted the sponsored gear arrived in Tokyo but was withheld from athletes.
“The gear was there, but they ensured we never got it. Now they attack athletes for exposing the truth. Does a business-class ticket justify this?” she remarked.
Okagbare, banned in 2022 for doping, maintains that Nigeria’s sports struggles stem from corruption, sabotage, and silencing dissent.
Her comments follow hurdler Tobi Amusan’s viral critique of AFN for providing subpar kits at the World Championships.
“I have to wear a basic Adidas tight. Jamaica shares a WhatsApp group with Nigeria, but their treatment is worlds apart. Other nations give athletes two kits—look what Nigeria handed us. It’s shameful,” Amusan said in a Snapchat video.
The video sparked online outrage.
One user, @Topss, commented: “The kits sent to Amusan are disgraceful. We are our own worst enemies.”
Another, Mimi, noted: “Despite AFN’s poor treatment—bad kits and unfair policies—Amusan won her heat, staying focused for the main event.”
Critics accused AFN of misusing athlete funds.
User Kahn stated: “Amusan got shoddy kits while officials pocketed the budget.”
AFN President Tonobok Okowa denied Amusan’s claims, stating athletes received full Hiracer-sponsored kits.
“The kits were fine. Amusan only showed one part of the set. They were told more would arrive the next day. She misrepresented the situation,” Okowa told Sunday PUNCH.
He added: “We paid nothing—Hiracer provided spikes, covers, and everything free.”
