Nigerian sprinter Favour Ashe has announced his decision to switch his international allegiance from Nigeria to Qatar, citing poor treatment, inadequate facilities, and administrative challenges within Nigerian athletics as the major reasons behind his move.
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Ashe, currently Nigeria’s seventh-fastest man in history with a personal best of 9.94 seconds in the 100 metres, revealed that his experiences at the 2025 National Sports Festival played a significant role in his decision.
According to the sprinter, athletics administrators in Nigeria showed a lack of “human feeling” in their handling of athletes, which left him deeply frustrated.
The U.S.-based athlete explained that returning to Nigeria to revive his career proved to be a setback, as he struggled to train effectively due to substandard track facilities.
Having completed his studies in the United States, Ashe also noted that he no longer had access to college training environments that previously supported his development.
Ashe disclosed that he has been in Qatar for the past five months and was surprised by the number of young Nigerian athletes currently training there. He expressed optimism about the future, stating his belief that Qatar is building a strong sprint programme.
“I am very sure we will form a formidable 4x100m relay team for Qatar,” Ashe said.
Despite the announcement, Ashe’s switch of allegiance is yet to receive formal approval from World Athletics.
Under international regulations, he will be required to observe a mandatory three-year waiting period from the last time he represented Nigeria. If approved, he is expected to become eligible to compete for Qatar after 2027.
The development adds to growing concerns over athlete welfare and infrastructure within Nigerian sports, as more elite athletes seek better opportunities and support systems abroad.
