Atlanta ’96 Olympics bronze medalist, Falilat Ogunkoya has blamed Nigeria’s poor performance at the just concluded IAAF World Athletics Championship in London on coaches.

The Nigerian team failed to win a medal in London and Ogunkoya, a 400m gold medalist at Jo’burg ’99 All Africa Games, believes the athletes were poorly managed by the coaches.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos, Ogunkoya, whose personal best and African record of 49.10 seconds at Atlanta ’96 Olympics remains the twelfth fastest of all time, said that Nigeria could have grabbed at least a bronze medal in London but the coaches ‘messed up’ the opportunity.

In particular, Ogunkoya was unhappy with the manner the coaches ‘bungled’ Team Nigeria’s chances in the final of the women’s 4x400m relay on Sunday.

Report by Miyen Akiri