The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has issued a strict deadline of 16 January 2026 to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to account for major age-related irregularities involving athletes registered for the 2025 African U18 & U20 Championships in Abeokuta.

According to the AIU, 16 out of the 17 Nigerian athletes entered for the competition presented multiple or conflicting dates of birth, raising significant concerns about potential age manipulation—a violation that carries serious disciplinary consequences under the World Athletics Integrity Code of Conduct.

The AIU’s instructions to the AFN are clear and uncompromising. The federation must submit verifiable age-confirming documents for each of the affected athletes, including:

Original birth certificates

Valid international passports

School or academic records

Medical documentation (where applicable)

These documents must conclusively establish the true ages of the athletes in question.

If Nigeria fails to provide adequate evidence by the January 16 deadline, the AIU will launch a full-scale investigation into possible age fraud. Such an investigation could lead to:

Athlete suspensions

Disqualification from age-grade competitions

Sanctions against officials

Wider scrutiny of Nigeria’s age-verification systems

Age manipulation remains one of the AIU’s most sensitive and closely monitored violations, particularly in youth competitions where fairness and athlete welfare are paramount.

The AFN has not yet released an official statement on the matter, but the directive places the federation under immediate pressure to clarify the discrepancies and safeguard Nigeria’s credibility in international athletics.