“Doctors Taped My Leg”: Nigerian Athlete Accuses Official of Forcing Him to Compete at World C'ships
- A Nigerian athlete has accused the technical officials of forcing him to compete at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo
- The athlete failed to progress to the next stage of his event after finishing 5th in the heats
- This is coming on the heels of Oluwatobiloba Amusan's claim that the AFN provided poor kits to the athletes
Another Nigerian athlete has laid blame on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) following his woeful performance at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo.
The AFN are recovering from the saga of poor kitting, following Tobi Amusan's outburst on the quality of Team Nigeria's kits.
Despite her criticism, the World Record holder went on to win heat 6 of the women's 100m hurdles with a time of 12.35 seconds, securing an automatic semi-final place.
Source: Getty Images
Ogazi calls out Team Nigeria coach
National record holder in the 400m, Samuel Ogazi, has accused Team Nigeria coaches of forcing him to compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championship.
In a viral video on X, the Commonwealth Youth Games gold medallist claimed he notified the coaches of his health status, but they never cared.
The 19-year-old explained that he did not suffer any form of injury while training in Nigeria but developed a hamstring during his warm-up in Tokyo. He said:
"I told the Team Nigeria officials that I wasn't prepared for this race that my hamstring is bothering me but they insisted I ran. I did what I could and this is the outcome.
On Monday back home, I had a very good practice and felt ready. I flew in on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, I went for shakeup and felt a tweak in my hamstring. I don't run with injury and I told them that I am not prepared for the World Championship."
Source: Getty Images
The doctor taped me - Ogazi
African bronze medallist has claimed that Team Nigeria's team doctor taped his leg when he complained about his injury.
Ogazi noted that he wanted to stay away from the race after insisting he was not ready for the World Championship.
The former National U-18 Champion said all he got from the team officials was encouragement to compete with an injury. He said:
"They told me to go out there and give it your all, I didn't even warmup properly. I was ready to sit out, during the warmup, I spoke with the doctor, he tapped my leg. I insisted I was not ready, you know I am not really healthy (strong)."
Ogazi finished 5th in Heat 3 of the men’s 400m, missing out on the semi-final, per Making of Champions.
During the Paris 2024 Olympics, Samuel Ogazi became the first Nigerian 400m athlete to compete in the men's final after 37 years, per Sportsnow.
AFN explains why kit was delivered in nylon bags
Legit.ng earlier reported that the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, informed the general public that issues surrounding the competition kit for the World Championship were a distraction from the athletes.
The Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) said the athletes were briefed about the new kits and accompanying benefits from the sponsors to those with podium finishes before Tobi Amusan's video went viral.
Source: Legit.ng
