Amusan Snubs AFN, Dedicates World Championships Silver to God and Team

Amusan Snubs AFN, Dedicates World Championships Silver to God and Team

By Niyi Busari 

 Nigerian sprint hurdler Tobi Amusan clinched a silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships on Monday, finishing in 12.29 seconds behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who claimed gold with a stunning national record of 12.24 seconds, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Amusan, the world record holder and former world champion, delivered a resilient performance to secure Nigeria’s only podium finish in the event, but her post-race remarks drew as much attention as her time on the track.

In her immediate reaction, Amusan dedicated the medal to God and her support team, notably omitting any mention of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the governing body for track and field in the country.

 "It’s been God, my team, and I’m just here doing the work," Amusan said. “My goal today was to come here and execute a plan. I told myself I’m not leaving here without a medal.”

The omission is being interpreted by observers as a deliberate snub of the AFN, following a recent fallout between the athlete and the federation. Amusan had publicly criticized the AFN over the substandard kits provided to Team Nigeria at international competitions. The federation, in turn, rebuked her for airing grievances in public.

Despite the off-track controversy, Amusan focused on her performance, recounting her mindset during the race:

 “When I’m hurdling, I usually don’t see who’s beside me. But at one point, I noticed one or two athletes closing in. I told myself, ‘Keep going until you hit the line.’ At least I got a medal, and I couldn’t be more thankful to God.”

Reflecting on her journey, Amusan expressed satisfaction with her comeback and ability to put past disappointments behind her.

 “It’s been a journey, and I’m just grateful I came up with a silver medal against the best in the world. What happened last year at the Olympics is behind me. This year, I just focused on executing my race plan.”

Amusan’s silver is another milestone in an already decorated career, but her strained relationship with Nigerian athletics authorities continues to raise questions about athlete support and federation welfarism to the athletes.