As the world anticipate Usain Bolt’s swansong at the IAAF World Championship that starts on Friday, another drama is unfolding in the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), as athletes that qualified for the competition are stranded in Nigeria, while officials of the federation are already in London.

18 Nigeria athletes qualified for the Championship, but only former African champion Blessing Okagbare, Tobiloba Amusan and four other athletes are already in London.

Meanwhile, AFN President, Ibrahim Gusau, AFN VP and Gen Sec alongside other officials are already in London, while unconfirmed reports states that the minister of Sport Solomon Dalung is also in London.

Athletes Jennifer Madu, Ese Brume, Patience Okon-George and Onome Nathaniel are expected to join their colleagues later today.

Meanwhile, Yinka Ajayi, Nathaniel Samson and Onome Nathaniel have been seen training at the Gateway stadium, Sagamu hours before the start of the Championship, while other athletes are still in Abuja waiting for a response from the UK embassy.

The 2017 IAAF World Championships is scheduled to be held from 4 to 13 August 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

This championship is to be sprinter Usain Bolt’s and distance runner Mo Farah’s last.

Writer: Kingsley Oyero