Gombe’s 14-year-old gymnastics prodigy Munyal Kwairanga is disqualified for being underage at the Gateway Games 2024. But critics ask: Why her? And why now—when others are allowed to slip through?
By: IDNN Youth Sports & Governance Desk
ABEOKUTA — She was a medalist in 2022. A crowd-favorite. A beacon of potential.
And now, Munyal Kwairanga, the 14-year-old gymnast from Gombe State, has become the face of a growing controversy — disqualified for being underage at the 2024 National Sports Festival.
Yet the question haunting the arena isn’t just “Why was she disqualified?”
It’s “Why now — and why only her?”
THE INCIDENT: FROM STAR TO SIDELINE
Kwairanga, who wowed audiences as a 12-year-old sensation in Asaba 2022, arrived in Abeokuta ready to compete again — older, stronger, and with two more years of training behind her.
Then came the shock:
Officials declared her ineligible to compete, citing updated age restrictions.
That decision, while technically within policy, has sparked outrage among coaches, parents, and spectators who’ve seen other visibly underage athletes compete freely in other events.
“What’s the cutoff? Who’s verifying it? And why is the rule being selectively applied?” asked one federation official.
THE SYSTEMIC FLAW: NO UNIFORM VERIFICATION, NO TRUST
At the heart of the scandal lies a fundamental issue:
Nigeria has no centralized, digital, cross-sport age verification database.
Athletes register with varying documents, across different states, under different administrators — some with affidavits, others with school IDs, and some with… just word of mouth.
So what determines who gets flagged and who passes?
“It’s discretion disguised as regulation,” said a coach from the North East.
“Today it’s Munyal. Tomorrow it’ll be someone else — or no one at all.”
WHO IS MUNYAL KWAIRANGA?
She is not a cheat. She is not a fraud. She is a child with talent and ambition — being punished by an inconsistent system.
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Competed legally at 12 in 2022
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Returned at 14, assuming eligibility
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Received no clear pre-Games warning of new cutoff
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Was disqualified without prior appeal process
Despite the setback, sources say Kwairanga has remained upbeat, seen encouraging her peers from the stands — a model of resilience in a sport that demands it.
THE WIDER DAMAGE: ATHLETE WELFARE UNDERMINED
This is more than one disqualification.
It’s a blow to athlete psychology, to grassroots development, and to trust in the National Sports Festival as a level playing field.
Athletes train for years for these moments.
To be dismissed over unclear guidelines—while others go unchecked—is both cruel and corrosive.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW:
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Immediate Review of Kwairanga’s Case – with transparent documentation
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A standardized national athlete database with biometric-backed profiles
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Public release of the NSF age eligibility framework, with yearly updates
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A published list of all disqualified athletes and reasons — to ensure transparency
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Establishment of an athlete rights ombudsman for festival-level appeals
Because every young athlete deserves clarity, fairness, and a fighting chance.
