Coach Olu Sule believes Nigerian athletics is experiencing a golden era once again and perhaps an even greater one than ever before.
As athletes lit up the tracks and field events at the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos, the former national jumper watched with admiration and confidence, convinced that the country is witnessing the rise of a generation capable of redefining Nigerian athletics on the global stage.
Speaking at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex, Sule, who now serves as a board member of the AFN, said the performances seen so far are clear evidence that Nigerian athletics has returned to its glory days.
According to him, what spectators have witnessed during the opening stages of the trials is only a preview of what lies ahead.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is just the beginning,” Sule said with excitement. “Our athletes are in very good shape, they are experienced and understand what it takes to navigate a competition of this nature.”
For the respected athletics administrator, the focus of many athletes at this stage is not necessarily breaking records but securing qualification spots and conserving energy for the decisive rounds.
“What is important at this stage is qualifying for the finals. Once they get there, they will give everything they have,” he explained.
The impressive times already recorded at the trials have generated excitement among athletics enthusiasts, but Sule insists the athletes are far from reaching their peak.
“If you are seeing fast times now, it simply shows they still have a lot of fuel in the tank,” he said.
“They came here prepared to give their best, so you can expect even more fireworks at the Commonwealth games”.
Beyond the performances in Lagos, Sule believes the bigger picture points to a remarkable resurgence of Nigerian athletics.
In his assessment, the nation has never enjoyed the level of depth, quality, and competitiveness currently on display across various events.
“Nigeria is living its best life in athletics right now. In my opinion, we have never been at this level before,” he declared.
The former jumper pointed to the emergence of Nigerian athletes among the world’s best this season as proof that the country is moving steadily in the right direction.
“When you consider that we have had two or three athletes leading the world rankings this season, it tells you that we are making significant progress,” he said.
Perhaps most striking was Sule’s comparison between the current generation and some of Nigeria’s celebrated athletics eras of the past.
While acknowledging the achievements of previous stars, he believes today’s crop of athletes possesses a depth of talent rarely seen before.
“Even the period we often refer to as our glory days was not quite like this,” Sule noted. “With the crop of athletes we have at the moment, the future is very bright and I believe Nigerian athletics will continue to be a success story.”
With Day Two of the Commonwealth Games Trials on the horizon, Sule expects even more spectacular performances from athletes eager to book their places for Glasgow 2026.
“I expect even more firepower tomorrow,” he said. “Hopefully, the weather cooperates and allows us to witness something truly exciting.”
As the competition intensifies in Lagos, Nigerian athletics is not merely enjoying a resurgence, it is entering a new golden age, driven by a fearless and talented generation determined to restore the country’s dominance on the world stage.
