‘World Athletics Flop, Wake Call For Nigeria’

Top athletics coach, Tobias Igwe, has described the country’s performance at the just-concluded World Athletic Championships in Daegu, South Korea, as a flop.

Igwe told newsmen in Lagos that the country’s poor outing at the event should be a wake up call, ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The coach said that there was not much difference between the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, though he rated the Olympics slightly higher than the World Championships.

“Our performance at the IAAF World Athletics Championships was nothing to write home about.

“We failed to make any impression at the championships in spite of our reputation as one of the best on the African continent.

“I hope the AFN and the NSC will see our decline as a wake up call and take necessary remedial steps before the London Olympic Games,” he said.

Igwe also said the country could still do well in the track and field events at the ongoing All Africa Games in Mozambique.

“The country always performs well at AAG and the Daegu World Athletics Championships has in a way acted as a dress rehearsal for our athletes.

“From my assessment of our track and field athletes, the female athletes are poised to perform very well for the country.

“On current form, we should be able to dominate the sprint events at the AAG in Mozambique,” Igwe said.