By Ben Efe 9.12.2025
Athletics Coaches Association of Nigeria, president Solomon Aliu has absolved coaches of blame in the age falsification scandal rocking the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
The AFN has been urged by the Athletics Integrity Unit to explain the age discrepancy of two athletes Nigeria presented at the 2025 CAA U18/20 Championships in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The country may be facing sanctions by January 16, 2026, if the AFN fails to give satisfactory answers.
Panicked by the development, the National Sports Commission has commenced a probe, while top athletics officials are pointing fingers at the coaches who selected the athletes.
Aliu who is also head coach of the AFN said Tuesday that it was more of a record keeping problem and not coaches’ poor judgement to blame for the malady.
“Anybody that’s bringing the blame of the age falsification of the said athletes to the doorsteps of the coaches is being untruthful,” said Aliu.
“What I know about crime prevention is, make it difficult for the criminal to commit the crime by putting all preventative measures.
“If the AFN Secretariat has a functional database with the relevant information of our athletes from their very first competition i.e Date of Birth and other relevant data, athletes or their coaches cannot wake up to change the athletes’ DOB without the Secretariat flagging such an athlete.
“Coaches are not the record keepers of the Federation and as such should not be blamed totally for this mess we’re faced with.”
Aliu said the NSC took the right step by starting a probe into the fiasco, adding that it was about time track and field remained problem free.
“I’m happy the NSC is taking the issue of age cheating in our sports seriously. And I’m also sure that AFN will wake up to its responsibility to investigate properly and bring to book whoever is involved in this ugly trend.
“Until that is done, I won’t accept anybody trying to tarnish the image of our hard-working coaches. We deserve to be pat on the back and not name calling. Heads must roll but let the head of the innocent remain on their necks please
“Let us all work together in ensuring we clean up our sports not just of age cheat but also of dope,” Aliu added.