By Ben Ogbemudia
The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development on Thursday warned some former members on the board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria on the attempt to sabotage the efforts of Nigeria’s chances at the Tokyo Olympics.

In a press release by Mohammed Manga, Director (Press & Public Relations) of the Ministry said it pertinent to warn that it will not accept any act of sabotage calculated at undermining Nigeria’s chances at the Tokyo Olympics.

He said the warning became necessary after it was brought to its notice that certain elements were involved in acts aimed at sabotaging Nigeria’s Olympics Invitational trials slated for this weekend in Yaba College of Technology. This act is tantamount to undermining Nigeria’s National interest in the area of Sports.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a successful AFN Congress held in Abuja to elect a new Board, led by Tony Okowa as President. This new board for the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) was inaugurated by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development on June 15th 2021.

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“This should expectedly bring closure to all the distractions occasioned by the leadership crisis that ended with the expiration of the old AFN board.

” The Ministry’s focus remains achieving an impressive podium performance for Nigeria at the Olympics, for which it has approved a series of qualifying events for Team Nigeria athletes to score the final points required to qualify for the Olympic Games

” Anyone, under any guise, attempting to block participating countries and athletes from attending these events is consequently sabotaging Nigeria, and will be held accountable.”