The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) has expressed concern following moves by football to stop operating in the same stadium with track and field.

CAA President, Hamad Kakalba Malboum, disclosed while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, shortly before the closing ceremony of the third combined CAA African U-18/U-20 Championships at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.

“Football used to be with us in the same stadium, but now football wants to be alone,” Malboum said. “It is a problem we have to discuss with CAF and FIFA. At our last Full Council meeting between July 13 and 14 here in Abeokuta, we deliberated on it, but we need to take it to a higher level.”

Malboum, a Cameroonian, also spoke on the growing trend of African athletes migrating to other countries.

He said: “This issue of change of nationality by our athletes is also another concern, but I know that many African countries are working hard to ensure good welfare and conducive environment for their athletes.”

The CAA President also urged the various athletics bodies in Africa to rise to the challenge of unequal representatives at World Athletics.  “Africa has just four representatives as against 12 by Europe. Africa has 54 federations, the highest in the world, and deserves more than four representatives at World Athletics,” he said.

Malboum commended Nigeria for the smooth organisation of the just concluded CAA combined African U-18/U-20 Championships, saying, “Nigeria has just demonstrated before the entire world how to host a successful championships despite very short notice.”

He said that the championships has brought out many athletes, including Clinton Owatinya of Kenya, who ran 10.42sec in the U-20 100m event, Mukona Manavhela of South Africa, who ran 10.62 secs in the U-18 category, Chioma Nweke of Nigeria, who ran 11.65secs in women’s (U-20), as well as Miracle Ezechukwu of Nigeria, who ran 11.88 secs in women’s U-18.