Shame in Nigeria as 2025 World Championships Trials are Held in Darkness

A disturbing video circulating on social media shows Nigerian athletes running a 5,000m race in complete darkness during the National Athletics Trials in Lagos.

The trials are a crucial part of Team Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, but the scene depicted hardly reflects a nation ready for a global sporting event.

With no working floodlights, the athletes can be seen navigating the track blindly, relying on memory and instinct. The viral clip has sparked outrage and ridicule, raising serious questions about Nigeria’s commitment to sports development.

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“This is unacceptable,” one user lamented on X (formerly Twitter). “These athletes are risking injury. How can we hope to compete on the world stage when our trials look like this?”

The hashtag #RunInTheDark quickly trended alongside #Tokyo2025 and #NigerianAthletics, with thousands expressing frustration at the lack of basic infrastructure and respect for the athletes.

While the Nigerian government recently rewarded the Super Falcons and D’Tigress teams with national honours and cash prizes, critics argue that true support begins with the fundamentals: proper training grounds, equipment, and suitable conditions.

There are growing calls for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Federal Ministry of Sports to launch an investigation and ensure this never happens again.

As the countdown to Tokyo 2025 begins, many Nigerians wonder if their athletes will be striving for gold or, once again, chasing greatness in the dark.