Nigerian sprinter Favour Ashe has opened up on the difficult circumstances surrounding his performance at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra following controversy in the men’s 100m event.
The Nigerian athlete was initially disqualified before later being allowed to run a solo qualification race to reach the semifinals.
“It affected me mentally,” Ashe admitted.
According to the sprinter, the situation became even more frustrating after his competition spikes reportedly went missing before the semifinal.
“My spikes disappeared before the race,” he revealed.
Ashe explained that he struggled to secure clearance from officials while attempting to resolve the issue before eventually competing with a damaged replacement pair.
“I had to run with damaged spikes,” he noted.
The Nigerian athlete admitted the entire experience disrupted his focus and impacted the quality of his performance on the track.
“It definitely affected my race,” he added.
Despite the setbacks, Ashe remained honest in assessing his overall outing at the championships.
“I’ll rate my performance five out of ten,” he stressed.
The sprinter acknowledged that he failed to meet his own expectations, particularly in the men’s 100m event where hopes had been high.
“I expected much better from myself,” he said.
The controversy has sparked fresh discussions around athlete welfare and event organization at major African competitions.
“It was an unfortunate situation,” many observers reacted after the revelations.
For Ashe, the message is clear.
Elite athletes need proper support.
Preparation matters greatly.
And small disruptions can affect performance at the highest level.
Because sprinting success often depends on precision, confidence, and mental focus.
