Stemming from Team Nigeria’s poor showing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, erstwhile African 100m record holder, Olusoji Fasuba, believes a total cleansing of the Augean stable of the country’s ecosystem, especially athletics, has become imperative.
Fasuba earned his stripes competing for Nigeria and he was the African record holder in the event with 9.85 seconds until Akani Simbine broke it in July 2021 with 9.84 seconds. Besides, he was a member of the Nigerian bronze medal-winning team in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2004 Olympic Games. The same year he won the African Championships in 100 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games behind Asafa Powell and was the indoor world champion over 60 metres in 2008, becoming the first African to complete the feat.
But for the first time in most recent history, no Nigerian athlete succeeded in ‘burning’ the tracks at the Paris 2024, much to the chagrin of Fasuba who admittedly stated that something drastic has to be done in order to return the country to those illuminating years.
“Reviving Nigerian athletics requires a complete overhaul of our out-dated policies,” Fasuba, who recently marked his 40th birthday, told NationSports. “These policies have long been used by administrators to serve their own interests rather than the athletes.
“We need to modernise our approach, focusing on sustainable development, nurturing homegrown talent, and ensuring that policies are fit for the purpose of long-term success rather than immediate gains,” he counselled.
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For Fasuba, Team Nigeria’s lack of podium finishes especially in the track and field events at the Olympic Games in Paris was indeed worrisome, even as he canvassed the total haul of personalities at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
“We approached the Olympics with hope, while other nations came prepared,” he offered. “Hope, unfortunately, isn’t a strategy.
“It’s concerning that this approach might continue, leading us to recycle the same failures in the future. To change this, we need a shift in mindset, prioritising proper preparation over mere optimism.”
He reckoned that maladministration, which had long prevailed at the AFN since his days as an athlete, has stilled sustainable development over the years. He, therefore, asked that competent hands should be sourced for in the forthcoming elections into the national athletics-governing body.
“Unfortunately, I’m not surprised (about the poor state of Nigerian athletics since my last outing as an athlete in 2012),” he bemoaned. “Over the years, I’ve witnessed how administrators have slowly undermined athletics with policies that seem more focused on personal agendas than on developing the sport.
“For example, the decision to open the National Sports Festival to all comers and the overemphasis on sending athletes to the U.S. collegiate system, without equally investing in homegrown talent, has been detrimental.
“These short-sighted policies have hampered the growth of athletics in Nigeria.
“To be honest, it wasn’t so much that I worked with the AFN (during my heyday); it was more like a Tom and Jerry situation and looking at it now, I’d say it’s even worse.
“The federation seems to have been taken over by people with little or no technical expertise, particularly in athletics. This is just my opinion, but it’s concerning to see the direction things have gone.”
With fresh elections into the board of the AFN around the corner, Fasuba stated emphatically, that there must be serious departure from the past in order to create a new and better direction for athletics in Nigeria.
He continued: “Ideally, we need people with the expertise and technical know-how to run the federation effectively. They should be able to demonstrate how they survive outside of sports and present a clear manifesto for what they intend to achieve.
“As for myself, if wishes were roses, I would consider it, but I’m more focused on ensuring that the right people are in place, whether or not I’m directly involved.”
While many have since moved on following the close of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, Fasuba said it’s about time to start work ahead of the next Games at Los Angeles 2028, adding that those who failed to plan naturally planned to fail.
“Turning things around (before LA 2028) will be difficult because it requires significant policy changes—changes that, frankly, no one seems willing to implement,” he posited.
“We often win a few medals and become complacent, believing that the same athletes will deliver in the next four years.
“Instead, we should plan with an eight-year vision, using the next four years as a foundation to test and refine new strategies.
“However, knowing how things work in Nigeria, the focus will likely shift to infighting during the next elections, and then the board members will start battling over contracts instead of athletes development.”
Away from the glare of being a Team Nigeria athlete, Fasuba said he has since found fulfilment in other spheres of life, even while his mind and soul still remain with the events on the track and field.
“After retiring from active competition, I joined the Royal Navy as a logistician,” he further said. “Currently, I’m pursuing a BSc in Cybersecurity, which has been a significant transition. “However, my passion for athletics hasn’t waned. Over the years, I’ve mentored many Nigerian athletes, helping them secure scholarships in America, while also supporting some junior athletes in the UK.
“At the moment, I’m mentoring my daughters, who are also involved in athletics, and I’m coaching an under-13 football team for Plymouth Hope. Balancing these roles has been challenging but rewarding, allowing me to stay connected to sports while pursuing new professional goals.”
Yet in Paris, we saw some athletes of Nigerian extractions put up remarkable performances for their adopted countries as Yemisi Ogunleye secured gold in shot put for Germany, Annette Echokunwoke won silver in the Hammer throw while Salwa Eid Naser (formerly Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu) earned silver in the 400m for Bahrain, amongst others.
Will the fledglings currently under the watch of Fasuba in the UK also take this route?
“It’s not my choice to make (if children are going to compete for Team Nigeria),” he noted.
“Just as my parents allowed me to choose my path, I’ll do the same for my children. I’ll tell them the truth about my experiences and how I was treated.
“If they’re comfortable with the idea of facing similar challenges, like not being registered in events or getting cheated of their entitlements, then they can choose to compete for Nigeria.
“But ultimately, the decision will be theirs,” he averred.