Nigerian 400m runner Edidiong Udo has publicly criticised the organisers of the upcoming 2024 CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championships for failing to include any Nigerian athletes on an official promotional banner, despite Nigeria hosting the event.
The championship is scheduled to take place from July 16 to 20 at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and will feature top emerging talents from across the continent.
Udo, who has posted consistently strong performances this season including a season’s best of 45.19 seconds at the Tom Jones Memorial in April, took to social media after spotting a promotional banner for the event that showcased foreign athletes, including Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson.
“We are hosting the CAA U18/U20 African Championship but pictures used on this banner has none of our athletes on it,” Udo wrote. “What concerns us with Kishane Thompson who’s a Jamaican?”
The banner in question. Photo Credit: X
The Ohio State University-based sprinter called the omission “disappointing” and questioned why no Nigerian faces — especially from the promising U18 and U20 categories were featured.
“Little things like putting up our athletes’ photo on a banner might be an inspiration for most upcoming athletes (speaking from experience),” he explained. “And here we are denying them that opportunity.”
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Udo highlighted several young Nigerian athletes who, in his view, deserved to be included in such publicity materials — including Kanyisola Ajayi, Israel Okon, Prestina Ochonogor, Ella, Chioma Nwachukwu, Samuel Ogazi, and Gadfar Badmus.
Edidiong Udo post on Facebook. Photo Credit: X
“This is another way of giving publicity to our athletes aside from blogs… if not for anything, it gives us bragging rights,” he added.
Strong International Participation Expected
The 2024 African U18/U20 Championships are set to welcome athletes from over 30 countries, including:
Botswana, Ghana, Morocco, Uganda, DR Congo, Namibia, Djibouti, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Seychelles, Guinea, South Sudan, Libya, Cameroon, Gabon, Mauritius, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Algeria, and Egypt.
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As well as Eswatini, Somalia, Niger, Cape Verde, Malawi, Lesotho, Comoros, and Angola
Despite the wide international presence, Udo stressed the importance of local representation in marketing materials especially when hosting a continental event.
“I encourage our ogas to give us this tiny little piece of encouragement. It means a lot. My little observation though,” he concluded.
