Nigerian Coaches React to NSC Plan to Bring in Cuban Athletics Experts

Posted : 01 October 2026

Plans by the National Sports Commission to strengthen Nigeria’s athletics programme with Cuban coaches have generated mixed reactions among local track and field coaches. The NSC says the move is aimed at addressing technical gaps, particularly in the jumps and hurdles, ahead of the 2027 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games.

The commission’s plans followed concerns over technical performances in Nigerian athletics. An NSC official reportedly raised the issue with Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials during the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary.

The reported plan is to bring Cuban specialists to Nigeria to work with athletes and strengthen the AFN’s technical department. The NSC had earlier indicated that it was looking at bringing in three Cuban coaches, with particular attention on events such as hurdles and long jump.

Some Nigerian coaches have expressed concern that the move could reduce opportunities for local technicians. They have instead called for more coaching courses, better motivation and stronger support for Nigerian coaches who already work with athletes at grassroots and elite levels.

Olalekan Adebote, President of the Athletics Coaches Association of Nigeria, said he had no objection to obtaining technical assistance from abroad. However, he stressed that Nigerian coaches should remain part of the process and suggested using Cuban or other World Athletics experts to conduct Level 2 and Level 3 coaching courses in Nigeria.

Adebote said such courses could help transfer knowledge to a wider group of Nigerian coaches. He also highlighted the importance of local coaches in identifying and developing new talent across the country.

The NSC has maintained that the proposed involvement of foreign coaches is not intended to exclude Nigerian technicians. Yusuf Alli, Chairman of the NSC Elite Athletes and Podium Performance Board, said the commission is looking both within Nigeria and abroad for ways to address what he described as a technical gap.

Alli also said the NSC had contacted Nigerian-born coaches working successfully in the diaspora. He pointed to the involvement of Cuban coaches in Nigerian athletics during the 1990s, including George Diaz and Jose Salazar, who worked with athletes such as Chioma Ajunwa and Gloria Alozie.

Ajunwa won Nigeria’s first Olympic athletics gold medal in the long jump at Atlanta 1996, while Alozie later won silver in the 100m hurdles at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Their careers have been cited in the current debate as examples of previous collaboration between Nigerian athletes and foreign technical experts.

The NSC’s wider plan comes as Nigeria prepares for two major international competitions. The 2027 World Athletics Championships will take place in Beijing, China, while the 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled for Los Angeles, United States.

The commission is therefore considering both foreign expertise and Nigerian coaching development as part of its preparations. The debate now centers on how both groups can be integrated while improving technical preparation and creating a stronger pathway for Nigerian athletes.

Nigerian Coaches React to NSC Plan to Bring in Cuban Athletics Experts

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