The curtain has fallen on the 3rd Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U18/U20 African Athletics Championship, held in Abeokuta, Nigeria, in 2025. The five-day continental gathering brought together the most promising young athletes from across Africa and gave Nigeria’s budding track and field stars a moment to shine on home soil. But as the last medal was awarded and the athletes returned to their respective states and training camps, one big question remains: what next for Nigeria’s athletes?

Team Nigeria had a commendable outing at the championship, finishing second overall on the medal table. The nation’s young stars delivered outstanding performances across various disciplines — from sprints to long-distance races, throws to jumps. A total of 23 medals (11 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze) was an impressive haul, showcasing the talent pipeline available within the country.

Stars such as Mary-Eloho Ojone, who clinched gold in the U18 100m hurdles, and Samuel Udo, the 400m U20 men’s champion, were standouts. Their performances lit up the MKO Abiola Stadium and captured national attention. But as history has shown, winning at age-grade levels is only one part of a much larger journey.

The pressing challenge for Nigeria now is transition — moving these athletes from youth-level promise to senior-level excellence.

Nigeria has, over the years, developed a reputation for excelling in youth and junior competitions, only to struggle in transitioning those talents into the senior ranks. The story of teenage prodigies disappearing into obscurity due to lack of support, mismanagement, or early burnout is all too familiar.

Athletes such as Blessing Okagbare and Ese Brume are rare exceptions in a system that often fails to nurture talent consistently. Without a strategic post-competition development plan, many of the young stars from Abeokuta 2025 could find themselves facing stalled careers.

The question now is, what must be done differently this time?

One of the biggest gaps in Nigerian athletics is consistent coaching. After youth competitions, many athletes return to underfunded training environments with little access to top-tier coaches, physiotherapists, or sports psychologists. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), in collaboration with state sports councils and private partners, must build a national athlete development framework that provides continuous technical support.

Mentorship also matters. Senior athletes should be paired with younger ones to guide them through career decisions, international exposure, and mental resilience.
For athletes still in secondary school or early university, combining education with elite sports can be daunting. The Ministry of Sports Development must work with institutions to provide flexible academic schedules and athletic scholarships, similar to the NCAA system in the U.S.

Universities like the University of Port Harcourt and Obafemi Awolowo University have already been involved in talent nurturing. Expanding this across all geo-political zones will ensure a balanced athlete-student identity, keeping young stars grounded.

Exposure is key to growth. After excelling at the continental level, Nigerian athletes must now compete more frequently in international junior and senior meets, such as the World U20 Championships, Diamond League events, and continental Grand Prix circuits.

This would not only sharpen their competitiveness but also provide crucial ranking points and financial incentives. Funding and facilitating these trips is a responsibility that falls on both government and corporate agencies.

The successful hosting of the Abeokuta 2025 championship underscored Nigeria’s capacity to organize international events, but maintaining momentum requires more than a one-off effort. Training facilities across the country need urgent upgrades — from tartan tracks to gymnasiums and medical centers.

Investment from the private sector, particularly through public-private partnerships (PPPs), should be actively encouraged. Companies like Access Bank, MTN, and Nigerian Breweries have previously supported athletics; a formalized sports sponsorship framework can help attract more consistent funding.

Beyond talk, Nigeria needs to track progress. Athletes who medaled in Abeokuta 2025 should be placed on a national performance watchlist, with biannual reports on their development. The AFN can create a digital athlete database accessible to national coaches, scouts, and sports journalists.

This accountability ensures that promising athletes don’t vanish after their moment in the spotlight. It also allows for early intervention if any are facing injury, academic trouble, or other challenges.

As these young athletes rise in prominence, they will also face growing pressure — from expectations of success to media attention. Ensuring access to mental health support is vital. Coaches and sports administrators must also be trained to recognize early signs of burnout or psychological distress.

Equally important is anti-doping education. Many junior athletes unknowingly consume banned substances through supplements or ignorance. Regular sensitization workshops and collaboration with WADA and the National Anti-Doping Committee are essential in protecting Nigeria’s next generation of champions.

Looking ahead, Abeokuta 2025 could be seen as the first chapter in a long story that culminates in Olympic glory. If nurtured properly, many of the athletes who competed in this championship could form the core of Nigeria’s Paris 2028 Olympic team, and even more realistically, the Los Angeles 2032 Games.

With strategic planning, Nigeria could be aiming not just for qualification but for podium finishes, especially in relays, hurdles, long jump, and sprint events — areas of traditional.

The success of the 3rd CAA U18/U20 Championship in Abeokuta offers a rare chance for reset and reflection. It showcased the immense talent Nigeria possesses and the potential for leadership on the African athletics scene. But the euphoria of gold medals and home crowd cheers will fade quickly if there is no follow-up action.

What comes next must be intentional: athlete welfare, structured transition programs, international exposure, and sustained investment. The athletes have done their part. It is now up to the federation, government, private sector, and wider Nigerian society to do theirs.

If managed right, Abeokuta 2025 could be remembered as the turning point that launched Nigeria’s next generation of athletic legends. If not, it will be another bright spark dimmed by systemic neglect — a story all too familiar in Nigerian sports.

The baton has been passed — what Nigeria does next will define the race ahead.