The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said yesterday that it would target the number three spot in the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) ranking for 2014.

Solomon Ogba, President of the AFN said in Abuja that the target when achieved would go a long way in repositioning athletics in the country.

According to Ogba the IAAF latest World ranking recently released which placed Nigeria 19th in the world and 3rd in Africa was an indication that things were getting better.

“Generally if I assess what we have done, I think modestly one will be happy to say it has been good but not where we want it to be yet.

“We want to have at least three, four or five athletes ranked within the first three in the world; if we have that then we can now begin to beat our chest.

“One of our goals is to erase most of the national records set before and we’ve started doing that because many records have been falling.

“The technical committee is actually the engine room of the federation because no matter where you run an administration and have nothing to show they will say you have not done well.

“But if you have medals and titles to show, then, they will say you have done well and what brings about titles is technical.

“So, we looked at the people we think can work with synergy, work together closely, who understand what it is because the sports have moved so much from what they used to be.

“What a lot of people think they know is no more what is involved.“